Previous Story
Rota lawmaker wants updated CPI for island
|
Posted on Jul 21 2011
Sen. Juan Ayuyu (Ind-Rota) has asked the Commerce Department for an updated Consumer Price Index report for Rota.
In his letter to Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar, Ayuyu said the people of Rota need more food stamp assistance but couldn’t ask for more funds from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs until a recalculated CPI is conducted.
“We need the CPI because there’s a timeline for federal requests for funding. DCCA is the agency requesting for any additional food stamp assistance for our people and not having that, we would never be justified on any request that DCCA is requesting to increase Rota recipients,” he said.
He said the U.S. Department of Agriculture cannot offer assistance until an updated CPI is released this year. Unless this is done, Rota could not avail of enough funding for its food stamp program, he added.
“The longer we wait for the CPI, the longer DCCA will be underfunded and our people will suffer. Meanwhile, prices and the cost of living in the CNMI will continue to rise,” he said.
