The CNMI government can now start parceling out the $7.7 million that was approved for the CNMI\u2019s Lost Wages Assistance program after President Joe Biden approved the CNMI\u2019s request to waive the 25% matching fund requirement.<\/p>\n
In a social media post, Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) said that Biden issued a directive yesterday waiving the non-federal cost share for the CNMI\u2019s LWA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, President Biden, for approving this waiver so our people would be able to receive the LWA grants,\u201d the delegate said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said he got a call from the Washington, D.C. office of the Federal Emergency Management Office yesterday morning confirming that the CNMI\u2019s request for 100% waiver has been approved.<\/p>\n
Torres said his administration looks forward to distributing LWA money as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I want to thank President Biden for the approval,\u201d the governor said.<\/p>\n
Torres also thanked FEMA Region IX administrator Bob Fenton for always assisting on the CNMI\u2019s needs and requests. <\/p>\n
LWA Program grants come from FEMA and the intended beneficiaries are workers who have been unemployed or are working reduced hours due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19. <\/p>\n
The CNMI was approved for $7.7 million last Sept. 16, 2020, for this purpose but it came with a 25% cost share requirement. That means the federal government will provide 75% of the program funding, while the CNMI will put up the remaining 25%.<\/p>\n
Early this month, Patrick Guerrero, the governor\u2019s authorized representative, told the House\u2019s Committee on Health and Welfare that he would make a final push to get an answer from FEMA on the CNMI\u2019s request for a waiver on the 25% matching fund requirement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t pay out anything by March 27 [2021], we forfeit this amount,\u201d Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
Committee chair Rep. Christina E. Sablan (D-Saipan) urged Guerrero at the meeting to follow up with Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig because Atalig appears to be under the impression that an $8-million match is required and not only over $2 million.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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