CPA executive director resigns

Christopher Tenorio

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will be without an executive director in the next few months following the resignation of executive director Christopher Tenorio, who is expected to let go of his post come August.

Tenorio officially announced his resignation from CPA in a public statement yesterday, saying he submitted his resignation with an effectivity date of May 1. The CPA board prevailed on him to remain in his position until August.

“…I…submitted my resignation to be effective May 1, 2023. However, for the sake of continuity, the [CPA] board asked me to stay back for now until we address all of our single audit compliance issues. Additionally, they asked that I work on critical projects so that when I leave, there will be continuity with the next director. So, with that being said, they have amended my effective resignation date to August 2023,” Tenorio’ statement said.

This was confirmed by CPA chair Kimberlyn King-Hinds, who said that Tenorio, who has been with CPA for 28 years, has given his all in his role as CPA chief and will continue to do so until his last day at CPA.

“Chris has been working for CPA for over 28 years. He started off his career at CPA as an accounts clerk and has worked himself up the ranks over the years. He is a good man who tries his best, and has given his best. He has given his personal commitment to the board that he will continue giving his 100% until his last day at CPA. Until then, there’s a lot of work to be done and we are going to keep working hard to keep CPA moving forward,” she said.

Tenorio has been the CPA executive director since 2016.

In an earlier appearance before the Senate’s Public Utilities, Transportation, and Communications Committee, Tenorio said that CPA’s revenue has drastically decreased in the past few years and nearly all of CPA’s airline partners suspended their flights to Saipan at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, he said, CPA received over $2 million in federal funds in 2021 to help them weather out the storm, he said. Unfortunately, those funds have been stretched as far as possible, but CPA still faces a massive decline in revenue, with the CNMI still trying to regain its economic footing.

Tenorio said CPA fears that, if no subsidy can be provided for CPA to continue operations, it may have to soon increase its airport rates just to get by, possibly risking the loss of airline partners.

Tenorio is also participating in drafting CPA’s letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation to request supplemental funds to help CPA stay afloat without risking the loss of its airline partners.