The Saipan and Northern Islands Delegation passed last week two separate measures that appropriate a total of $8.5 million from the Exclusive Gaming Annual License Fees allotted for Saipan to infrastructure improvements at Kagman as well as addressing concerns of various government agencies.<\/p>\n
Rep. Frank Aguon\u2019s (R-Saipan) House Local Bill 20-46, which appropriates a little less than $2.1 million for road improvements on the Kanat Tabla project, Lalangita Road, Lalangha Avenue, Palu Lane, As Teo Road, and Puteng Drive.<\/p>\n
During discussions, House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan) proposed an amendment to appropriate $122,142 towards the Indigenous Affairs Office.<\/p>\n
Rep. Angel A. Demapan\u2019s (R-Saipan) House Local Bill 20-49, which sought to appropriate a little over $6.4 million from the Exclusive Gaming Annual License Fees allotted for Saipan to various government agencies.<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. would be allotted $2.9 million to address both the turbo-charge retrofitting of four engines as well as the wastewater pretreatment system. The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. was allotted $1.8 million in appropriations for the procurement of new equipment and facility improvements, while $573,290 went to CHCC\u2019s workforce needs as well as the corporation\u2019s charge service fees to cover the cost of services.<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority was appropriated $150,000 while the Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office was allotted $460,000 for the purchase of a pay loader, a 2,000-gallon tanker, a roller compactor, and to address the outstanding maintenance equipment rental fees.<\/p>\n
A total of $125,000 was allotted to the Division of Agriculture for the Kagman farm plots and Sabalu farmers, for tractor maintenance, and for the procurement of its attachments. Some $25,000 was allotted to the repairs of the Koblerville Youth Center, $40,000 for Karidat Social Services, and $139,000 was allotted to the SNILD.<\/p>\n
SNILD chair Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) told Saipan Tribune in an interview that the reason why the appropriations were separated despite coming from the same source was because it made sense strategically.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the communication came to the Legislature from the administration that there is $8.5 million to dispose of, part of the items to be disposed was $2 million for Kagman roads,\u201d said Sablan.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026[Aguon] reviewed the communication from the administration and extracted the amount for Kagman [to] create a standalone bill,\u201d he said, adding that according to experience, it was harder to deduct from a standalone bill than a large appropriation bill condensed together and solely for Kagman.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026it\u2019s easier to grab [from a larger appropriation] than from an [appropriation] bill with only one intent,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
With SNILD passing both appropriation measures, both H.B. 20-46 and H.L.B. 20-49 now head to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres for enactment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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