Babauta: Transition staff can go on leave

All employees of the Executive Branch who are involved in the government transition were allowed to go on administrative leave from Monday, Dec. 5, 2005, to Jan. 8, 2006.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta issued the memorandum on Wednesday, informing all department and activity heads to grant administrative leave to all employees of the CNMI government who have been designated to work on the Transition Committee and Subcommittees.

“Although Directive Numbers 158 and 201 specifically give you the authority to grant or deny administrative leave, I feel that this request should be granted to ensure a smooth transition to the administration of the governor-elect,” Babauta said.

He expressed confidence that the Transition Committee would submit time and attendance records for the concerned employees while they are conducting Transition Committee business.

Furthermore, Babauta urged the heads of the Legislature, Judiciary, or Municipalities to take a similar action.

“Although I do not have the authority to grant administrative leave to employees of the Legislature, Judiciary or Municipalities, by copy of this letter, I respectfully encourage the heads of these respective government entities to also grant administrative leave to the employees on the list,” he said.

The Transition Committee had a meeting at the Multi-Purpose Center at 6pm yesterday to discuss protocol, code of conduct, and other matters related to the visits that will be made to Executive Branch offices.

Members of the Transition Committee will be reviewing and assessing documents from each agency in order to generate reports by Dec. 30, 2005.

They are expected to get down to start the visits on Monday.

According to the Office of the Governor-Elect, the chairs or sub-chairs of Transition Subcommitees are:

I. Governor’s Office: Claudio K. Norita (chair); Jack Manglona (vice chair)
Special Assistant for Administration: Esther Fleming, Joe Villagomez (sub chair)
Public Information and Protocol: Charles Reyes (sub-chair)
Carolinian Affairs Office: Angie Mangarero (sub-chair)
Coastal Resources Management: Frances Castro (sub chair)
Criminal Justice Planning Agency: Esther Milne (sub chair)
Council on Developmental Disabilities: Rita Demapan (sub chair)
Domestic Violence Intervention Center: Esther Milne (sub-chair)
Emergency Management Office: Lino Tenorio (sub-chair)
Division of Environmental Quality: Dave Rosario, Gus Camacho (sub-chair)
CNMI Office of Homeland Security: Arnold Seman (sub-chair)
Indigenous Affairs: William Macaranas (sub-chair)
Labor and Immigration Identification System: Tom Torres (sub-chair)
Office of Management and Budget: Tony Muna (sub-chair)
Micronesian Affairs: Shirley Monkeya (sub-chair)
Military and Veterans Affairs Office; Jess Muna (sub-chair)
Board of Parole: Tony Gomez (sub-chair)
Political and Regional Affairs: Danny Buniag (sub-chair)
Board of Professional Licensing: Florence Stephen (sub-chair)
Public Liaison: Luis Pangelinan (sub-chair)
Scholarship Office: Shirley Norita (sub-chair)
Senior Policy Advisor: Jack Omar (sub-chair)
Special Programs: Jack Omar (sub-chair)
US Passport Office: Ann Doris Babauta (sub-chair)
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: Lou Matagolai (sub-chair)
Women’s Affairs Office: Cecilia Celes (sub-chair)
Workforce Investment Agency: Vince Rabauliman (sub-chair)
Youth Affairs Office: George Cruz (sub-chair)
Micro Games Commission: Jack Aguon (sub-chair)

II. Lieutenant Governor’s Office: Claudio K. Norita (chair); Jack Omar (vice chair)
Hawaii Liaison Office: Angel Demapan (sub-chair)
Guam Liaison Office: Francine Sablan (sub-chair)
Solid Waste Task Force: John N. Dowai (sub-chair)

III. Departments
Commerce: John Deleon Guerrero (chair); Pedro B. Camacho (vice chair)
Community and Cultural Affairs: Melvin Faisao (chair); Mike Fleming (vice chair)
Finance: Eloy Inos (chair); Henry Rabauliman (vice chair)
Division of Customs: John Cepeda, Tony Blas (sub-chair)
Division of Revenue and Taxation: Henry Rabauliman (sub-chair)
Public Safety: John Wabol (chair); Manny Mangarero (vice chair)
Labor: Gil San Nicolas (chair); Alfred A. Pangelinan (vice chair); Felix Fitial (advisor)
Public Health: Joe Kevin Villagomez (chair); Joe I. Itibus (vice chair)
Lands and Natural Resources: Ray Mafnas (chair); Ben Camacho (vice chair)
Public Works: John Demapan (chair); Simeon Odoshi (vice chair); Felipe Roberto (advisor)
Solid Waste Management: Ignacia L. Evangelista (sub-chair)
Attorney General’s Office: Teresa Kim (chair); Joey P. San Nicolas (vice chair)
Division of Immigration: Melvin Grey (sub-chair); Antonio Cruz (vice sub-chair)
Corrections: John Wabol (chair); Manny Mangarero (vice chair)

Autonomous Agencies
Commonwealth Utilities Corporation: Joe T. Torres (chair); Velma Palacios (vice chair)
Commonwealth Ports Authority: Roman S. Demapan (chair); Tony Rasiang (vice chair); JM Guerrero (advisor)
Marianas Public Lands Authority: Howard Macaranas (chair); Jesus I. Sablan (vice chair)
Marianas Public Land Trust: Augustin M. Tagabuel (chair); Steve Mendiola (vice chair)
Commonwealth Development Authority: Ralph Yumul (chair); Henry K. Rabauliman (vice chair)
Public School System: Dan Nielsen (chair); Frank M. Rabauliman (vice chair)
Civil Service Commission: Vicente M. Sablan (chair); Gonzalo Q. Santos (vice chair)
Northern Marianas College: Daily Villagomez-Bier (chair); Eric Johnson (vice chair)
Board of Elections: Robert N. Magofna (chair); Michelle Olopai (vice chair)
Marianas Visitors Authority: Herman P. Sablan (chair); Melissa Magofna-Camacho (vice chair)
Northern Mariana Islands Retirement Fund: Al Santos (chair); Pamela J. Seman (vice chair)
Office of the Public Auditor: Tony A. Camacho (chair); Rose S. Pangelinan (vice chair)