Lawmakers’ visit to Pagan set for August

Members of the Legislature and government officials are expected to join a trip to Pagan that is being organized by the Department of Public Lands.

Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) said that DPL has set “Aug. 20 or 24” for the trip.

Sablan said it will be good for members of the Legislature to participate in the trip, considering that a number has yet to see Pagan.

Sablan said there is also a possibility that other CNMI government officials, including acting governor Ralph DLG. Torres, will join the trip.

In June, DPL Secretary Pedro A. Tenorio said he is planning to explore Pagan to actually see what the island looks like, as talks about proposed military activities, homesteading, and free trade zones on the island continue.

The official said weather permitting, a chartered boat can take DPL representatives and lawmakers to Pagan “sometime during the summer.”

Tenorio emphasized that the goal of the trip is “to check the place,” adding that he has not visited the island in “15 or 20 years.”

He said part of the visit is a homesteading “village” that was planned years ago. “I want to see where it is, and see if there are changes in the land,” Tenorio said.

He said inquiries have already been made, and that the department has set aside $50,000 for the exploratory trip.

The U.S. military earlier expressed intention to lease the whole island of Pagan as a live training and bombing site. A draft environmental impact statement had been issued, detailing the potential effects of these activities.

But the proposal has been met with a resounding “no,” not just by the CNMI community but also by lawmakers and Commonwealth leaders.

Currently, a team from consulting group Dentons is reviewing the draft EIS.