Manglona hopes airport fee increase will be addressed soon

Sen. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota), who chairs the Rota Legislative Delegation, hopes the confirmation today, Tuesday, of the nomination of Jose C. Ayuyu and two others to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors would mean the increase in airport landing fees and terminal fees will be expeditiously addressed.

Manglona stated during the delegation’s meeting yesterday that, with the confirmation of the nominations of Ayuyu, Steve King Mesngon, and Dolores Pangelinan Kiyoshi to the CPA board in today’s Senate session, that would give the CPA board the quorum it needs to address some of the issues that were brought up during the confirmation hearing.

One of those issues, he said, is to address the rate increases that the CPA board had adopted, and to reassess and see how they can reduce the rates.

“I hope that, with the confirmation of the three new members, they can expeditiously address the rate increases, especially the landing fee increases and to kind of see if that can be offset by some changes to maybe wharfage fees to support that,” the delegation chairman said.

This came soon after Sen. Dennis James C. Mendiola (R-Rota) mentioned that Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota), as chairman of the Senate Public Utilities, Transportation & Communications Committee, has addressed the rising costs associated with increasing airport fees.

Mendiola offered a recommendation that maybe they can write as a delegation to CPA, stressing the support of vendors on Rota.

Steven McCoy, president of the Rota Chamber of Commerce, emailed Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) last month, stating that increasing airport landing fees could have a cascade effect that ultimately will result in a decline in business and tourism in the CNMI.

McCoy said such an increase of landing fees will cause higher operational costs for airlines, which could then result in reduced flight options and higher ticket prices.

To keep CNMI airports open, the CPA board adopted last month a new rate methodology that reflects a 90% increase in landing fees and a 79% increase in terminal fees starting Oct. 1, 2023.

McCoy requested reconsideration and encouraged a dialogue between the Chamber and Sen. Paul Manglona’s office to explore more sustainable and equitable solutions for funding airport improvements.