DPL to private landowners: Advertise your properties
Department of Public Lands Secretary Pete A. Tenorio is supporting a Senate resolution urging his department to encourage new investors in the CNMI to lease or purchase private lands before leasing public lands.
In response to the Senate resolution filed by Sen. Justo S. Quitugua (Ind-Saipan), Tenorio said he has “repeatedly emphasized in the media the importance of utilizing private lands for new business investments in the Commonwealth.”
“I have encouraged and will continue to encourage our local private landowners to come forward and advertise their property to new investors. Ultimately, the decision to lease one’s property lies in the hands of each individual landowner,” Tenorio said.
He said the DPL “wholeheartedly supports the intent” of Senate Resolution 19-05.”
‘No’ to sale of public lands
In March, Quitugua joined the call to prevent the lease of public lands and instead prioritize private properties.
Quitugua filed S.R. 19-05 requesting the DPL to “encourage new investors to lease or purchase private lands before engaging in leasing public lands so that the limited public lands are reserved for homesteading programs.”
Quitugua’s resolution said public lands are “diminishing” while privately owned lands in the Commonwealth are in “great abundance” and are sitting idle.
The senator hopes his resolution can address the economic hardships of many local families due to the high cost of living, utilities and health care, and education.
While Quitugua is offering an alternative for DPL, two lawmakers are directly urging the department to cease the lease of public lands.
DPL’s announcement that it is in talks with Best Sunshine International, Ltd. to lease 40 hectares of public land in Marpi drew strong reactions from lawmakers who are strongly urging Best Sunshine and DPL to go for private lands, considering that some of the public lands eyed for lease are still occupied by residents and are being used for other purposes.
The Marpi land, according to Rep. Roman Benavente (Ind-Saipan), has always been home to historical shrines.
“Best Sunshine and the DPL should strike the right balance,” Benavente said. “What will happen to the local residents once these lands are leased?” He said there are some 6,000 residents of Northern Marianas descent who are living in Marpi.
According to the lawmaker, Best Sunshine should buy more private lands to help more members of the community. He also questions why DPL is eyeing 40 hectares of public land for Best Sunshine, which he said is “too big.”
Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) echoed Benavente’s comments, saying DPL should stop “giving away public lands.”
That’s a bunch of BS Pete.. We all know the style…
Pete A, you are a self serving inept man…..Had this been your take from the start, we wouldn’t be using precious public lands so immediately available. You need to hang it up….You don’t even know when you’re insulting yourself.
Who got agricultural land. Clerk of courts should publish these…
Check Public Land, and you will find out who are the few who thought they were short changed for one reason or another. They are now being offered or have been issued (do not know yet – need to verify) another hectare of land up near the airport.
Juanet let our people get last d but not Lai by illegal or short cut through connection. Thanks anyway.
There is usually a compelling reason why you were not given 2.5 hectares of land. The fact that you accepted the 1 hectare means that you have forfeited your right to go back and demand the difference from a program that was officialy closed and changed to accomodate more applicants as the number increases every year. They should have reserved those lands to give out homestaders, because there are still hundreds of applicants left to entertain and more will be graduating from high school this year. This is a gross mismangagement of public property and the homesteading progrfam!
Buenas John,
We strongly agree with you, the distribution of homesteads and agriculture land on Tinian has to be fair. Our attitude is if you can’t them through the government, we would buy them for our children and our future generation. It is sad to see that many don’t appreciated their land afforded to them by our government. The going rate now for a one thousand square meters Lott is two thousand dollars and you may find cheaper deals. Some of our people are desperate to relocate to the mainland and they are selling all their assets in Tinian, very sad.
Buenas John,
You may obtain a copy of the list at the Public Land in Tinian or get a hold of one of our elected officials and they may entertain your request.
Thanks Jun…
I’ve been saying this for years…(develope PRIVATE LAND) leave public land for our next generation to enjoy…
there are several private land great beach front locations that are available, you just have to look beyond the Govs. office