‘Priority of PL 19-75 are retirees’

Providing a bonus for retirees this holiday season was one of the priorities of House Bill 19-212, according to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres. The bill became Public Law 19-75 after Torres signed the measure on Monday at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center.

PL 19-75 appropriates $40.97 million to various government agencies and programs. He also signed HB 19-209 that becomes PL 19-74, which gives a 5-percent salary adjustment to all civil service employees. Rep. Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan), who was present at the signing, authored both bills.

Torres said that $3.5 million would be equally distributed to all retirees or their beneficiaries, with each one expected to receive at least $1,000. He added the government has already collected the over $40.9 million allocated for the supplemental budget.

“Our retirees were not given [cost of living adjustment] or any compensation for 15 to 20 years. [The] the critical part and biggest priority of the $40 million supplemental budget—revenue that we already have—is our retirees. We have our current employees getting raises, so we also looked at how we could assist our retirees before the holidays,” said Torres.

COLA, a percentage of an employee’s salary, is divided into 12 months. Retirees would receive 24 paychecks for one year every the 15th and 30th day of the month.

Torres said the bonus is across the board at $1,000. “Whether you are getting $8,000 or $100,000 per annum you’ll be getting $1,000 across the board. All retirees or their beneficiaries would benefit from it,” he said.

He added the COLA and bonus are different. “The bonus is the same amount for everybody against your 5 percent COLA. Not only are you getting that [Monday], you don’t have to worry about dividing that into 12 months.”

The Public School System is getting a huge chunk of the supplemental budget ($10,241,826) while land compensation, and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. will receive $9 million and $8 million, respectively.

The central government’s payment to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. ($3,624,116); Fuel Adjustment Clause rate subsidy and Medical Referral Program ($2 million each); Outstanding lump sum wages of all active and inactive employees frozen at Step 12 ($1,451,365); Governor’s Office Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, and Community Guidance Center programs ($1 million), Northern Marianas College ($1 million), and Northern Marianas Trades Institute ($150,000) are the other recipients of the money.

Torres said the current business climate allowed the government to assist and fund agencies, departments, divisions, and other programs. “We are seeing a lot of good things from our partners. That’s why appropriation is critical, to provide better services. This will go a long way.”

“In order for our government to move forward, we need to settle past billings. We can’t move forward if we don’t address that. The administration is responsible to pay and settle past bills. It needs to get paid. We thank the Legislature’s hard work and dedication to pass these bills.”

Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog added that the administration and the Legislature—House and Senate—had to meet a number of times before the bill was crafted. “We wanted to provide them with the exact [amount] and not the anticipated resources. It takes a good working relationship with the executive and legislative branches for this to push through.”

House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan), meanwhile, said addressing issues in the Commonwealth has been one of the Legislature’s priorities.

“We try to address all the concerns behind a good working relationship with the House and Senate. I ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to chart the course so we could have a better Commonwealth. The best interest is to appropriate the right amount for each program or agency,” Demapan added.

Senate vice president Arnold Palacios (R-Saipan) said the law was made possible after the government had collected additional funding this year. “And it addresses major obligations. The Senate, House, and administration realized that.”

“And to a large extent, we are paying now those standing obligations but also looking at some of the real needs. We hope that this is only the beginning as we continue to address the needs of our community,” added Palacios.

Senate floor leader Steve K. Mesngon (R-Rota), Reps. Roman Benavente (Ind-Saipan), Joseph Leepan Guerrero (R-Saipan), Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan), Glenn Maratita (R-Rota), and Felicidad Ogumoro (R-Saipan), Cabinet secretaries Edith Deleon Guerrero (Labor), Robert Hunter (Community and Cultural Affairs), and Larrisa Larson (Finance), and Division of Customs Services director Jose C. Mafnas were present at the signing.

CUC executive director Gary Camacho and CHCC chief executive officer Esther L. Muna along with officials and staff of the Northern Marianas College, Northern Marianas Trades Institute, the Board of Education, and PSS also attended the event.