The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs\u2019 Nutrition Assistance Program is still working with its new vendor to build an improved eligibility system for the agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are presently in the contract development process for the eligibility system and that would require several steps to be completed, including completion of a signed contract,\u201d DCCA-NAP administrator Walter Macaranas said. <\/p>\n
The creation of the eligibility system will help NAP move into the Electronic Benefits Transfer, where benefits are electronically transferred to a debit card-type system instead of obsolete paper coupons.<\/p>\n
According to Macaranas in an earlier interview, much of the work performed to prepare, produce, and distribute benefits is done manually.<\/p>\n
Based on December 2013 data, CNMI NAP provided assistance to 3,222 household cases consisting of 8,707 individuals on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. <\/p>\n
Macaranas said the new system will provide timely and accurate fiscal and management reports, documentation, staff user training, and controls and checks to reduce opportunities for fraud and abuse.<\/p>\n
According to Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP), the technology upgrade will complement the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program study. <\/p>\n
\u201cUpgrading the system will help bring the NMI food stamp program in line with SNAP and add the ability to issue benefits using plastic debit cards,\u201d Sablan said.<\/p>\n
The recently enacted Agricultural Act of 2014 requires U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the capability of the Northern Marianas to operate SNAP and provides $30.5 million to raise benefits beginning October 2015.<\/p>\n
Macaranas said the SNAP program is still in progress and no information can be disclosed until a report is completed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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