The CNMI Legislature is poised to conduct a full-scale probe into what it describes as the \u201chemodialysis project fiasco\u201d of the Department of Public Health.<\/p>\n
Senate minority leader Pete P. Reyes said a full-swing investigation will have to be made, although the Senate is ready to pass a bill appropriating additional funding for the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to pass the bill because this is for a good cause. We also feel that we should not penalize the end users, the community. But we\u2019d make sure that the players\u2014those responsible for the mess\u2014will be held accountable so we\u2019ll go ahead with the investigation,\u201d said Reyes.<\/p>\n
He said that the House of Representatives, which earlier passed the bill identifying $5.8 million for the hemodialysis project, \u201cis not over yet with the probe.\u201d<\/p>\n
House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes Jr. confirmed that the investigation will continue.<\/p>\n
The Senate had called DPH and Department of Public Works officials Thursday to inquire on the fund shortage. <\/p>\n
Meantime, Sen. Reyes said that he will soon file a resolution asking the U.S. Inspector General to audit the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has jurisdiction over this because this project involves federal funds. It appears that there\u2019s a lot of mismanagement, misappropriation, and even malfeasance on the part of participants,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Reyes said Senate members decided not to hold a session last Thursday to act on the bill because it still wants to hear from the Attorney General\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
He said the Senate had asked the AGO three times to attend the meeting last week but it declined to show up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe AGO refused to come the first time. They told our legal counsel that the invitation was so sudden and they\u2019re not prepared. The second time, we asked for the one assigned for procurement and supply, and we\u2019re told he was not authorized to come to the Senate. The third time, we invited the assistant attorney general for public works, but we\u2019re informed that the acting AG instructed all AAGs not to talk with our legal counsel,\u201d Reyes said.<\/p>\n
He said the Senate views the AGO\u2019s actions as \u201cdisrespectful and uncooperative.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the administration is pushing for the immediate reprogramming, it seems that the AGO does not treat it as urgent so the [Senate] president didn\u2019t call for a session,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Among others, he said the Senate would ask the AGO if it approved the change orders even if these already exceeded the original funding level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got lots of questions but basically we want to know who\u2019s responsible for this fiasco,\u201d said Reyes.<\/p>\n
The House earlier passed House Bill 14-258, which aims to reprogram $5.8 million for the completion of the Public Health and Hemodialysis project and $2 million for the Kagman III road pavement.<\/p>\n
The hemodialysis funding would be taken from \u201cidle\u201d Kagman wastewater project while the road paving funds would come from the Dandan sewer project or the expansion of the Agingan sewer treatment plant. <\/p>\n
The bill said that the Kagman wastewater funds, which include federal grants, may likely remain unused until 2006 due to design changes and permitting delays.<\/p>\n
The Babauta administration earlier asked the Legislature to approve the reprogramming of funds for the hemodialysis project, citing that the original appropriation has been depleted with a remaining balance of only $857,000.<\/p>\n
The hemodialysis project was originally given $11 million from 702 funds. <\/p>\n
DPW and DPH said the fund\u2019s depletion was caused by several change orders \u201cto correct certain design defects and to accommodate unforeseen circumstances during construction.\u201d <\/p>\n
The hemodialysis project was initially designed by Leo Daly amounting to about $800,000 but due to unacceptable work, the government entered into a redesign project with Tanaguchi Ruth for nearly $900,000.<\/p>\n
The government also awarded $5.6 million to AIC Marianas to construct the facility. The government said this amount does not cover the construction of other important features such as parking area and water system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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