Rota hemodialysis project takes off

The long-delayed construction of a hemodialysis center on Rota will finally begin today.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial announced yesterday the contractor, Pacific Cooperation Ltd., is expected to complete the project within 270 days, or by March 10, 2009.

Henry K. Pangelinan & Associates has been retained to manage the construction, and ensure construction performance, quality assurance, and a timely completion of the project.

“I am proud of our [Department of Public Works] team’s accomplishment in moving forward with projects such as this and I look forward to the movement of other projects ahead,” Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said.

The project has been in the planning stage since 2005. Funding problems had kept the project on hold until the Commonwealth Development Authority recently issued $1.5 million in proceeds from the CNMI’s capital improvement bond.

Adjoined to the existing Rota Health Center, the existing RHC Cafeteria will be converted into the new hemo-dialysis center. Construction of the new facility will include utilities separate from the Rota Health Center, including power back-up generator, an independent water supply, and a reverse osmosis system.

The facility will have enough capacity to accommodate the current clients of Rota, while providing for the project’s future expansion. It will be furnished with five hemo-dialysis stations, with one unit serving as an isolation care station complete with a mechanical lifter capable of transporting bed-ridden patients to the upper level on a stretcher or wheel chair.

The governor in his State of the Commonwealth address last month said the administration is expediting the drawdown of federal CIP funds.

He reported that since he took office, the Commonwealth drew down a total of $51 million. That amount represents 46 percent of the cumulative balance available for the CNMI’s use.

He also bared a plan to use within the next six months about $39 million of the CIP funds toward “projects that will stimulate the economy.” He did not specify what those projects are. But he promised that by Spring 2009, the CNMI will have an infrastructure plan in place to satisfy the requirements to qualify for future water and wastewater infrastructure funding from the federal government.