Tinian govt eyes loan to fix harbor

Using his emergency power, Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas is scouting for lenders who will let him borrow some $2.5 million to repair the Tinian harbor.

“We are looking into different kind of angles to come up with that amount. If anybody is interested to lend us [money], just let me know,” said the mayor yesterday.

San Nicolas, who declared the island under emergency on Oct. 5 due to its damaged harbor and seawall, said that the declaration will stay until he has found the money.

“The elimination of the declaration is coming soon to an end; it’s good for 30 days. But my intention is to extend it until I find money,” said the mayor.

The businessman-turned-mayor said that right now his plan is to ask the Tinian legislative delegation to provide the funding; alternatively, he could approach the Tinian Casino and Gaming Commission for a loan.

“I will see if they can loan me [the funds]. We’re looking at CIP. I believe there’s a still balance. We can request the delegation to reprogram the money,” he said.

He said the Commonwealth Ports Authority, which owns the facility, does not have the money to finance the repair.

So far, he said the CPA has approved the payment of $300,000 for architectural and engineering work.

CPA board vice chair Serafin Dela Cruz said that, while CPA is responsible for the project, it cannot easily move funds due to certain regulations.

“We [CPA] are the owner of the harbor. …We approved the request of the mayor on his emergency declaration. …CPA has money but the process takes long. The Tinian economy is at stake here so it makes sense that the mayor under his emergency declaration look for innovative financing,” said Dela Cruz, who is from Tinian.

“The point is, the port is damaged and it must be fixed immediately,” he added.

The CPA and the local government are in close discussion on possible payment terms.

The CPA board estimated last week that the harbor repair would cost $2.5 million. This came after the board approved the hiring of engineer Juan C. Tenorio to do the architectural design and construction of the project. It was the same engineering firm that worked on the design of the Tinian harbor in 1997.

In declaring the emergency, San Nicolas cited that the severe damage at the Tinian harbor and the collapsed water structures pose great risks to the public.

CPA executive director Clyde Norita said the emergency repair of the breakwater, which was built during World War II, would cost some $700,000.

To rebuild the whole structure would cost over $10 million, he said.