Early completion of Kobler project seen
The House of Representatives has approved the amended version of legislation that appropriates $2.4 million for the installation of sewer, power and water facilities in the housing project now under construction in Koblerville Village.
House Bill 12-301, which also appropriates $800,000 for various projects on Rota and Tinian, now heads to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio for signing.
Northern Marianas Housing Corporation Marylou S. Ada said the House action would facilitate the prompt completion of the Koblerville project which has been under construction for almost two years.
She said NMHC is confident all 45 home units that are now being erected in Koblerville Village will be ready for occupancy by April 2001.
Majority of the units have already been pre-qualified to interested families and that NMHC expects to officially award the units soon after construction work is completed in three months.
“Construction is progressing very well and we have already pre-qualified more than half of the applicants who have submitted application for the units. We have received over 50 applications but not everybody are eligible or qualified,” she pointed out.
Ms. Ada said NMHC have been consistently working with the applicants for the submission of the required documents that would determine whether or not they can qualify to own a unit in the Koblerville Housing Project.
She stressed that the housing corporation is right on target in terms of the project’s completion, despite a temporary delay when the Division of Fish and Wildlife previously stopped construction activities due to endangered bird species issues.
Four companies that were not chosen to undertake the $7.3 million housing project in Koblerville last year protested against the selection process made by the government-owned housing corporation.
At least 11 companies had submitted proposals to undertake the construction of the 45 housing units.
NMHC had, however, maintained that the selection process for the $7.3 million is in compliance with the procurement regulations of the government.
The housing project would also involve the construction of equally important infrastructure facilities like roads and sewerlines.
Housing units in CNMI have registered an increasing trend which reflect the increased demand for housing by a growing population and a prospering economy.
More than half of all housing units in the Northern Marianas were built between 1980 and 1995, a period of high growth in population and economic development throughout the islands.
