$600K earmarked for Saipan infrastructure projects

Over $600,000 were earmarked by the House of Representatives for various infrastructure projects on Saipan under three appropriation bills passed during the second day of its second regular session.

The biggest chunk of the funding will go to construction of covered sidewalks in full compliance with federal accessibility standards for Garapan and Oleai Elementary Schools.

The plan will cost $300,000 in government funds coming from re-appropriation of remaining balance from earlier capital improvement projects.

Another $310,000 in CIP funding balance will also be shifted to finance much-needed infrastructure projects in Kagman, San Vicente, Koblerville and San Antonio, such as a public toilet and completion of a baseball field.

A third appropriation amounting to $14,391.48 will be used to construct a covered walkway for San Vicente Elementary School. The funds were the balance from three construction projects on the same school.

The measures are now up for Senate voting before the governor can sign them into law.

Meanwhile, the lower house cleared a new legislative proposal that seeks to update existing laws on environmental health and sanitation as well as gives teeth to enforcement powers granted to the Department of Public Health in an effort to carry out its duties.

The House Committee on Health and Welfare chaired by Rep. Malua T. Peter favorably endorsed HB 12-57 which was introduced by Rep. David M. Apatang last February.

“The committee acknowledges the need to revise the present statute in order to meet the present and future sanitation challenges commonly found in developing economic infrastructure,” it said in a report.

A similar proposal last year was vetoed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio because of questionable provisions that would only create duplication of efforts among various government agencies responsible for monitoring sanitation standards.

To address his concerns, the committee solicited comments from DPH, Division of Environmental Quality, Department of Public Works and Department of Labor and Immigration.
A final draft of the bill was drawn up by a task force created by the Bureau of Environmental Health which was the version passed at yesterday’s session.

HB 12-57 or the Commonwealth Environmental Health and Sanitation Act of 2000 aims to revamp present laws that dated back to the time of the Trust Territory and have not been revised in over 25 years.

“Lack of a comprehensive, detailed environmental health and sanitation statute has led to problems with the administration and enforcement of existing statutes and regulations,” the bill stated.