Tudela makes it through financial drought

Despite financial constraints, Saipan Mayor Juan. B. Tudela initiated various community programs including road improvement and beautification projects during his first 100 days in office.

This, as Tudela appealed to the Legislature to provide the local government more funding to carry out the rest of the projects for the island.

“We will do our best we can and we are still hoping that the Legislature will give us more funding so we can carry out the rest of our projects,” the mayor said during a press conference yesterday.

He listed major road improvement projects around the island as primary programs completed by the Saipan Mayor’s Office. This include removal of overgrown vegetation along the Beach Road walk path; stretching of the Koblerville Road; removal of garbage and debris, overgrown trees and grasses; and resurfacing of various secondary roads including the Mt. Tapochao landscape.

“We had just completed the dilapidated perimeter road at the Garapan boat basin to help fishermen and we have just completed the improvement of the road from CMS to Hong Kong restaurant in lower Gualo Rai. We also resurfaced the Chalan Kiya road, and the two-mile stretch of the Chalan Galidi to Mt. Tapochao,” the mayor reported.

Only recently, Tudela also assigned a staff from the Mayor’s Office to participate in the eradication of the scarlet gourd, a program being undertaken by the Department of Lands and Natural Resources.

“My administration fully backs this program to prevent the rapid spread of infectious plant disease that may lead to the total destruction of local flowers, trees and other tropical vegetation that make our islands look blooming,” Tudela said.

The mayor said water deliveries have increased in recent months with more government divisions and agencies added to the list of regular deliveries.

The local government is also finalizing plans for the upcoming Liberation Day festivities as respective steering committees were formed to make the celebration a success.

Tudela also recognized the efforts of the administration to help the local government, while the Saipan Legislative Delegation recently approved the supplemental budget for the Mayor’s office for the remainder of the fiscal year 2002.