Pete A. takes Rota slug problem to USDA

Following up on a request made by the Rota Legislative Delegation, Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio met with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials Friday last week to discuss the federal response to the Rota slug problem.

“When I was on Rota in July, I met with Mark Bonin from Northern Marianas College, Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service program and Mayor Benjamin Manglona, and then took a tour to inspect for myself the devastation caused by these slugs. The island’s agricultural industry is at stake, and it is obvious that this problem must be addressed and soon,” said Tenorio.

Tenorio met with Robert Spaide, the acting assistant deputy administrator for the Pest Detection and Management Programs.

“My mission was two-fold: to make sure that the management in the USDA knew of the problem, and to begin the process of establishing an agricultural inspection and treatment center in the CNMI to keep other invasive species out of our islands and to facilitate the entry of beneficial plants into the CNMI,” he added.

Bonin and his colleagues at NMC have received a USDA grant to conduct a slug and snail survey as a first step in the process of suppressing the slugs.

“Mr. Spaide is very aware of the problem, and assured me that the department is concerned. Once the survey and assessment are finished, USDA will work closely with NMC and the Agricultural Research Service to devise a plan of action to eradicate this pest. We must find a method to deal with the slugs that does not cause other problems and prevents its spread to other islands in the CNMI,” said Tenorio.

He said he is “very impressed” with the experts at NMC and expressed assurance that, through their dedication, “this problem will be resolved in time.”

However the challenge of establishing agricultural and biological inspection stations allowing the CNMI to develop its agricultural and botanical products for export, facilitating the entry of economically useful plants into the CNMI, and ensuring that no other invasive and potentially destructive species find their way into the islands will be his and other elected officials’ responsibility, Tenorio added.

The meeting had been requested by the three Rota senators—Paul A. Manglona, Diego M. Songao, and Paterno S. Hocog—when they had planned to visit Washington, D.C. but had to cancel their plans due to the ongoing recovery efforts from Supertyphoon Chaba.