House panel calls for public hearing on proposed amendments to Mañagaha use rules
The CNMI House Standing Committee on Natural Resources has called for a public hearing to hear the concerns of marine operators who are in opposition of the Department of Public Lands’ proposed amendments to the current rules and regulations governing the use of Mañagaha Island.
Over a week ago, DPL sent out a notice proposing to amend the current rules and regulations governing the use of Mañagaha.
Essentially, the proposed amendments give master concessionaire Marianas Global Inc. more control of the island and limits who can conduct commercial activity on Mañagaha.
Since the proposed amendments were released, local marine operators have made known their disagreement with the proposed amendments and have even met with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David Apatang seeking help.
House Standing Committee on Natural Resources chair Rep. Angelo A. Camacho (Ind-Saipan), pursuant to the Open Government Act, has called for a public hearing to hear the concerns of the public.
The hearing is set for today at 5:30pm at the House Chamber Honorable Jesus P. Mafnas Memorial Building, Capitol Hill.
“The general public is strongly urged to participate in the public hearing and to provide written comments either before or during the event. Oral testimonies will be received during the public Hearing. If you have any inquiries about this public hearing, please reach out to the Office of Representative Angelo A. Camacho. You can send your comments via email to staff.rep.camachoa@cnmileg.net,” said Camacho in his notice.
Meanwhile, DPL announced last week that it will conduct two public hearings regarding the proposed amendments to the commercial rules and regulations for Managaha.
Both hearings will start at 5:30pm on Aug. 16 and 19 in the DPL conference room at the Joeten Dandan Commercial Building.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, marine operators have expressed that should DPL push forward with its amendments, many of them would have to close up shop as they won’t be able to conduct business on Mañagaha anymore.
However, DPL’s David Sablan says that the current regulations provide that commercial competition on Mañagaha Island will be eliminated and provide that the concessionaire has the exclusive right to operate all commercial concessions, and to conduct all tours of the island and from the island, but does not clearly define the scope of commercial activity and concessions included in this right.
“Revising the regulations will clarify that this exclusive right to conduct or operate any tour or activity on the island or departing from the island includes but is not limited to underwater and surface water activities,” he said.
Ultimately, Sablan explains, the intent of this amendment is to further define the type of commercial activity the concessionaire and a limited number of sub-concessionaires may perform.
“Section 145-30-101 of the Commercial Use of Mañagaha Island Rules and Regulations already states that this includes the right to conduct all tours of and from the island, and to operate surface water sports, i.e., parasailing, banana boat ride, pedal boat, power boat lagoon cruises, windsurfing, canoe rentals, canoe tours, kayak tours; and underwater sports, i.e., SCUBA diving, SNUBA diving, snorkeling, BOB, and sea walker-type tours. The proposed amendment will clarify that picking up tourists from the island to conduct these activities is considered commercial activity and prohibited. The proposed amendment further clarifies that whether the commercial activity was a package deal that originated in Saipan to Mañagaha Island, or departs from Mañagaha to Saipan, this type of activity will be restricted,” he explained.
Furthermore, DPL said marine sport operators will be restricted from picking up a visitor from Mañagaha Island for the purpose of any intended surface or underwater sport activity, unless the marine sport operator(s) has a valid sub-concessionaire agreement that was mutually agreed upon by DPL and the concessionaire.
“The existing regulations do not give the exclusive concessionaire the exclusive right to provide transportation to the island, and the proposed amendments would not change that. As a result, the proposed regulation would not prohibit local residents from hiring boats or using personal transportation and would not prohibit tour providers from arranging transportation between Saipan and Mañagaha (as long as the transportation does not include a marine sport activity),” said Sablan.
Angelo Atalig Camacho
