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MPLA employees back from RP trip
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Posted on Feb 01 2006
Marianas Public Lands Authority chair Ana Demapan-Castro’s son-in-law and two other MPLA employees reported back to their Saipan offices on Tuesday after a 15-day official trip to Manila, the Philippines, with each of the employees earning per diem fees of $300 per day.
Excluding the cost of travel and the training, per diem fees alone for the two-week trip would total $13,500.
MPLA spokesman Ed Arriola, Jr. confirmed the arrival of Homestead Division inspector Anthony Benavente, Demapan-Castro’s son-in-law. Arriola also said Real Estate and development Division James Fleming and systems administrator Frank Borja also reported back for regular work beginning Tuesday after completing a two-week computer course from DB Wizards.com, a Microsoft-certified school in the Philippines.
“All these passed and got their certificates,” Arriola said. “That helps a lot when they’re into technology. They’re young and energetic individuals.”
Demapan-Castro also said sending the three employees to the Philippines for training was in line with the MPLA’s vision for a continuing education for its staff so they could become assets to the agency.
The transition team for the MPLA has called for a review of off-island travels by the agency’s officials and employees and recommended that the suspension of all travels outside the Commonwealth to prevent wasting financial resources through junkets.
The transition team recommended the suspension of all-off-island travels, “unless authorized by board action for a period of 90 days, or until the board of directors amend the current travel policy and procedures to maximize its financial resources and minimize junkets.”
