COP breaks ground on public facility at Unai Dangkulo

Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort officials joined CNMI officials Tuesday morning during the groundbreaking for the renovation and construction of a public facility at Unai Dangkulo.

The groundbreaking ceremony kick-starts the E Land-owned golf resort’s new construction of an access road, an additional pavilion, and a new public parking lot. The project includes the renovation of the public restroom and two other pavilions.

Matthew Park, Micronesia Resort Inc. chief executive officer and Kensington Saipan Hotel general manager, said it was E Land’s responsibility to make a contribution to the local community when they acquired COP.

Park said a total of three months will be needed to complete the project. He didn’t commit, however, to a fixed date as to when the construction and renovation will start or end.

“Our efforts to revive this area [Unai Dangkulo] was to make a contribution to the community and our efforts to revive it would have not been possible without the help of the CNMI government,” Park said.

He promised that E Land would continue a wide range of projects as well as new developments that will contribute to the community.

Govt involvement
Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada said his office was involved in the design process of the public facilities.

“We worked with the Department of Land and Natural Resources that included the design for this project and permitting fees,” Ada said.

DLNR Secretary Richard Seman said historical and cultural artifacts in the area are his department’s primary concern.

“It has an existing permit that allows them to do what they need to do here, only now it’s E Land and not Suwaso, Inc. …As far as permit is, the government’s concern is the artifacts from the Spanish galleon trade,” he said.

In the 1600s one of the grand Spanish merchant ships that carried loads of silks, rugs, porcelain, ivory, jewels, gold, and others sunk at the southernmost area of Saipan. According to Seman, some of the artifacts were salvaged in the Unai Dangkulo area but not all were recovered and whatever is found there belongs to the CNMI government.

Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality director Frank Castro gave the notice to proceed for the project on July 14, 2015.

BECQ administrator Frank Rabauliman also issued out a minor coastal permit to DLNR for the improvement project.

Aside from the pavilions, barbecue grills, tables, and walkways are also in the works.

Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan) said the new construction will also help the tourism industry, especially after the beach is enhanced and improved.

“I just hope that it gets maintained properly, not get vandalized, and hopefully I get E Land to put a gate to close the area during the wee hours so people don’t venture here,” Guerrero said.