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Free DPL from land compensation program
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Posted on Jan 28 2009
This time I have to agree with John Del Rosario assertion that House Bill 16-206 is unconstitutional. If the bill becomes law, it will take away the Department of Public Land’s autonomous status guaranteed by CNMI constitution even if DPL is under the Executive Branch through an Executive Order. By all means, DPL must be protected from any intrusion in its independent affairs and be respected for its rank within the government. Even if the local or federal courts disagree, DPL must utilize every resource available to it to protect its sovereignty.
The Legislature should abolish the land compensation program and free DPL from any responsibilities and associations thereof, because it must concentrate only on homestead programs in compliance with the Constitution. Should the Legislature decides to continue the land compensation program, it will be smart to create another governmental agency or department to oversee it because DPL should not be overburdened with civil matters but essential public services only, such as the homestead program.
Unfortunately, the Legislature must find a balance between the interest of the public and the interest of the private landowners requiring land compensation, but the answer must not lie on DPL’s shoulder. Instead, the Legislature must find the solution to this problem away from DPL’s corridors since this is not a fundamental agenda of DPL’s activities.
Furthermore, the Legislature must lighten the responsibilities of the Secretary of DPL to be consistent with its responsibilities. Consequently, the pay scale must commensurate with the responsibilities. Since DPL will no longer administer the dreadful and cumbersome land compensation program—assuming the Governor vetoed House Bill 16-206—the Secretary’s pay must be reduced. I think Mr. Del Rosario will certainly agree with me.
[B]Enrique K. Seman[/B] [I]Kagman, Saipan[/I]
