52 applicants employed through NEG

About 52 applicants on Saipan have already been given temporary jobs through the National Emergency Grant and are currently with various government agencies, assisting with cleanup of typhoon debris, flood prevention, mitigation, recovery efforts, debris removal and repair work due to the effects of Supertyphoon Chaba.

NEG administrator Jerry Kintol said yesterday that the 52 approved applicants began working this week at the Department of Public Works, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Commonwealth Ports Authority, Department of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

He said more employees are to begin working possibly by next week, with NEG program officials only awaiting their drug test results before approving their application.

Kintol said that, with the $2 million awarded to the Commonwealth, about 70 applicants on Saipan, 20 on Tinian, and 40 on Rota would be given temporary jobs.

Drug tests have already been conducted on Rota and results are expected soon, while a technician from the Office of Personnel Management will be on Tinian on Monday to conduct testing for applicants.

“Testing on Rota is already done and we’re just waiting for the results,” he said. “Once results are in, we’re going to process the papers and hopefully by next week they’ll start [work].”

Kintol explained that NEG staff is currently compiling needed data necessary for their application to the U.S. Department of Labor for additional funds.

He said hours needed to complete tasks are submitted by each participating government agency. The NEG reviews the number of hours, double-checking if the amount requested by the agencies is sufficient for the tasks before submitting a total number to the U.S. Department of Labor.

If more funds are granted, applications submitted during the intake process last month would be reviewed again before approving more applicants.

“We’ll take whatever we can get,” he said.

Earlier, NEG project director Jesse P. Stein reiterated that NEG funds are not enough to provide essential services requested by the government agencies.

Because the $2 million is not intended for payroll alone—it is also used for operations cost, equipment for granted employees, and rental of NEG office space, among others—the current fund would only accommodate roughly about 140-150 participants.

Stein said the request may range from between $5- to $10 million in additional funds.

In all, over 1,000 applications were submitted during the intake process, with about 781 applying on Saipan, about 145 on Tinian, and 150 on Rota.

Approved applicants are paid $8 per hour for a labor-intensive 40-hour workweek. Employment through the grant will last each employee six months or 1,040 hours.

The NEG are discretionary funds under the Dislocated Worker Program of WIA and the U.S. Department of Labor. It is awarded to states and territories to assist with major economic dislocations.

Kintol also extended appreciation to all agencies involved with the NEG program.