House OKs DPL use of $1M settlement money
The House of Representatives passed yesterday a bill that will allow the Department of Public Lands to use $1 million in settlement money arising from a DPL lawsuit in order to “enhance” its services.
With all 17 House members present at a session voting “yes,” House Bill 23-91 authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan T. Attao (Ind-Saipan) now goes to the Senate for action.
Vice speaker Joel Camacho (Ind-Saipan) and Reps. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan) and John Paul P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) were absent but excused from the session.
Attao introduced the bill yesterday and asked that it be placed on the House’s calendar for action.
House members passed the bill without discussions.
House Bill 23-91 would amend Section 711 of the CNMI Public Law 23-09 to allow DPL to use the $1 million allotted under Civil Case 16-04. That money is settlement funds from Kan Pacific Saipan Ltd. and Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC over DPL’s lawsuit against Kan Pacific for breach of the land lease agreement.
Under the bill, an additional $1 million is appropriated to DPL, bringing the department’s government appropriation to a total of $5,960,881.
Blas Jonathan T. Attao
