$6.4M spent for service contracts

The central government has entered into several hundreds of service contracts with individuals, consulting companies, and other vendors totaling $6.4 million in fiscal year 2005.

Records obtained by the Saipan Tribune through the Open Government Act showed that the bulk of the money, totaling $4.5 million, was used by the Department of Public Health, mostly to obtain medical services for the patient referral program.

The remaining amount was spent by other agencies.

The documents showed that the Governor’s Office spent $289,120 in professional services. This includes the contracts for consultant Adam Turner, totaling $115,275 covering the period from July 1, 2004, to Sept. 20, 2005.

Turner signed a contract worth $42,900 for the period from July 1, 2004, to Dec. 31, 2004, and three separate three-month contracts amounting to $24,125 each up to Sept. 30 this year.

Other contracts are for: J’s Consulting Services for $50,000 from October 2004 to September 2005 at $12,500 each for four short-term contracts; former senator Ramon S. Guerrero, $50,000; Jeffrey Steven Didonato, $17,000, Travis & Rosenbe Sandler, $15,000, for garment lobbying; Asia Pacific Management, $17,345, for administrative services; and Pacific Island Washington, $24,000.

Other Executive Branch offices incurred a total of $844,953.74.

These contracts are:

* Office of Personnel Management—$3,630—for Gary Shimbako for training, $1,500; and Diagnostic Laboratory for random drug testing, $2,130;

* Department of Finance—$434,105.15—for Rufin Inos, $60,000; for Marianas Pacific Network, $50,000; TSR Computer and Consulting and Emiliana Hiroichi, $8,625; Armored Express Services, $4,800; J.D. Edwards World Solutions, AO Enterprises Inc., and Belcom Information Solution, $310,680.

* Attorney General’s Office—$26,086—for Edward Manibusan, Pangelinan’s Embalming Services, Juan T. Dela Cruz, Aurelio Espinola, Diagnostic Laboratory, Judicial Services, Micronesian Appraisal, and Eberdong Jonas.

* Department of Youth Services—$26,093—for Thomas and Antonet Joab, Dexter and Marsha Apatang, Christine Halloran, Beth and Andy Nepaial, Toothworks, Hardt Eye, Powell Fire Sprinkler, Ericco Enterprises, Securewest International, and Pacific Clinical.

* Secretary of Labor—$1,740—for translation services of Dennis T.C. Tse

* Secretary of Corrections—$676—for Marianas Eye Institute consultation and prescription.

* Department of Public Safety—$700—for translation services of Xue Jun Xing;

* Department of Lands and Natural Resources—$51,200—for Unity Trade Service for Typhoon Chaba, $240; Ignacio Dela Cruz for Agriculture, $50,000; PB Manglona Construction-Rota Agriculture, $960.

* Department of Public Works—$270,422—for F.Q. Guerero and Associate, $43,200; Marianas Pacific Network, $29,571; Buccat Professional Land, $750; Ericco Enterprises/Maeda, $185,676; Art Man Corp., $10,000; Garment Recycling Program, $195,676; Hofschneider Land Survey, $525; MRT Corp. Real Estate, $700.

* Flame Tree Festival/Department of Community and Cultural Affairs—$3,728—for Philippine Goods Construction, $2,828; GTS Security Inc., $626.25; Juan T. Guerrero and Associates, $273.

The Legislature, meantime, incurred $544,837 in expenses for independent contracts: $36,749 for the Senate, $396,730 for the House of Representatives, and $111,358 for the Legislative Bureau.

Documents showed that the Senate Committee on Rules and Procedure spent $6,600 for the services of Jeffrey Steven Didonato—with $6,000 covering October and November 2004, and White, Pierce, Mailman law firm’s payment for CNMI Travel and Toyota Rent A-Car 92 Camry, $600.

The Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee paid $17,500 for Joey P. San Nicolas who signed three separate contracts: $2,500 for March, $7,500 for April to June 2005; and $7,500 for July to Sept. 20, 2005.

Sen. Paul M. Manglona paid $5,199.96 to Luis H. Manglona from July to December 2004, while Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo spent a total of $7,450, with the amount divided among P.S. Consulting for October 2004, $550; LQK Consulting Firm for October 2004, $900; and Roman S. Demapan for January 2005, $6,000.

In the House of Representatives, the following lawmakers acquired the services of consultants.

Rep. Joseph Deleon Guerrero spent $11,300 for Doria M. Kintol, given in four different contracts: $3,000 from February to March 2005; $1,500 entered on April 30, 2005; $1,700 entered for June 2005; and $5,100 for July to September 2005.

Rep. Crispin M. Ogo spent $3,000, with $500 for Dr. Larry Hocog in October 2004, and $2,500 for Felix T. Mendiola in October 2004.

Rep. Arnold Palacios spent a total of $69,000 for the following services: Law Office of Edward C. A., $10,000, from November 2004 to September 2005; and BYT Consulting Services, $58,000, from November 2004 to September 2005.

Rep. Janet U. Maratita spent $61,000 for independent contracts: JQ Inos Enterprises, $60,000; and JVD professional services, $1,000.

Vice Speaker Timothy P. Villagomez spent $6,000, with the amount split between Ramon DLG. Aldan, $2,000, in October 2004; and SCG Corp., $4,000, from Oct. 2004 to January 2005.

Rep. Jesus Lizama spent $48,000 for Sablan and Sons Consulting from October 2004 to Sept. 2005.

Rep. Martin B. Ada spent $73,800: A’s Consulting Services, $25,200; FTF General Contracting Services, $39,000; Ada’s Consulting Services, $6,600; and Victor C. Pangelinan, $3,000.

Rep. Raymond N. Yumul spent $7,030 for the Law Office of Edward Manibusan from January 2005 to Sept. 2005.

Rep. Claudio K. Norita spent $4,600: LQK Consulting Firm, $1,600, from October 2004 to November 2004; and Edward D. Babauta, $3,000, from April to June 15, 2005.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial spent $9,000 for JIS Consulting Services from Dec. 1 to 29, 2004.

Rep. Norman S. Palacios spent $20,000: Law Office of Arriola and Co., $12,000, from October 2004 to September 2005; and Isidro Sablan, $8,000, from October 2004 to January 2005.

Majority floor leader Oscar M. Babauta spent $48,000 for Sablan and Sons Consulting.

The House also entered a $36,000 for Miriam K. Seman for contingency.

The Legislative Bureau spent $111,358 for the following services; Robert T. Torres, $508 in November 2004; Law Office of Joel J. Berger, $60,000, from November 2004 to April 2005; Lilian A. Tenorio, $27,000, from January 2005 to June 2005; Joseph James Camacho, $9,000, in October and November 2004; Jural Group, $8,000, from December 2004 to January 2005; and InfositeServer, $6,850.

The CNMI Youth Congress paid Alvin C. Fejeran Jr. $10,300 from Nov. 22, 2004 to September 2005.

In the Judiciary, the Law Revision Commission spent $32,142.84 for Stacey Deborah Conner from October 2004 to August 2005.

In the municipal level, the Mayor’s Office of the Northern Islands spent $55,286: Cornerstone Consulting, $12,500 from October to December 2004; Pedro Deleon Guerrero, $25,155 for May to September 2005; McN Corp., $4,800, two separate two-day charter day service to Alamagan and Agrihan; and Americorps Helicopters, $12,830, for chartered flights.

The Mayor of Saipan spent $148,500 for the following: Dr. Larry Hocog, $22,500, from Oct. 1, 2004 to March 12, 2005; Steven C. Woodruff, $62,000, from Oct. 1, 2004 to Sept. 30, 2005; Marian DLG. Tudela, $21,500, from November 2004 to September 2005; Daniel M. Sablan, $4,000, from February to April 2005; Marianas Pacific Network, $25,000, from October 2004 to September 2005; Josepha N. Sablan, $12,000, from May to September 2005; and Castro and Associates, $1,500 for parceling survey.

The Municipal Council of Saipan spent $13,300: VTA Consulting Services, $13,000, from October 2004 and Joseph James Camacho, $300.

The Mayor of Tinian spent $2,997 for the services of Joey P. San Nicolas, $2,497, for March and April 2005 and contingency, $500.

The Mayor of Rota spent $30 for Pextex Com. for fumigation, while the Rota Municipal Council spent $3,200: T’s Enterprise, $2,500 and Double Enterprises, $700.