FLASHBACK – November 25, 2011

Nov. 26, 1999

DPH saves $1 million from medical referral

The Department of Public Health has saved a little over $1 million from its medical referral program in Fiscal Year 1999 after it brought in six specialists to treat patients on the island. According to Health Secretary Kevin Joseph Villagomez, the medical experts include a dermatologist, neurologist and urologist, who mostly came from Honolulu. He said the department has been working closely with Queens and Sta. Francis Hospitals in Honolulu to find ways on how to save more money on health care. Air fare and housing costs took the biggest chunk of the medical referral budget, said Mr. Villagomez. To pare down expenditures, DPH has outlined restrictions although it still allows a medical escort in extreme cases.

NMI must stem the spread of AIDS

The Issue: A single case of AIDS is enough to sound the alarm bell of this costly and deadly plague. Our View: Aggressive public education is needed to stem the spread of this disease among all who live in these isles. AIDS was once unheard of in this archipelago some 30 years ago. That we now have 30 people infected by it is sufficient for the entire community to rally behind the call to stem the spread of this deadly plague. AIDS can be contracted through the use of needles among drug users, infected blood administered to patients through blood transfusion, same gender sex and promiscuity. One of these routes could land anybody a long bout with this crippling and deadly disease.

Nov. 26, 2001

AGO paves way for lower port fees

The Attorney General’s Office has approved the suspension of the scheduled terminal tariff rate hike as well as the extension of the Airline Incentive Program, the Commonwealth Ports Authority disclosed Friday. CPA Board Chair Roman S. Palacios said that the suspension of the tariff increase in seaports and the extension of the discount program for airline companies flying Saipan are anticipated to help keep the local economy afloat. Palacios said that, prior to its approval, the AGO gave the public 30 days to comment on the proposal-the Emergency Regulation Suspending the Terminal Tariff Rate Increases, which was also filed before the CNMI Registrar of Corporation and the Office of the Governor.

Teno helps ensure smooth transfer of power

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has instructed all agencies of the CNMI government to cooperate with the incoming administration’s Transition Committee to ensure the smooth turnover of executive powers come January. Tenorio said he issued a memorandum on Friday to all department and division heads of government offices and semi-autonomous agencies, urging them to extend their fullest cooperation to the transition team. “Yes, I have already given instruction to all departments to accommodate and cooperate with the transition committee and to give them all the necessary data they ask for in aid of a smooth transition of executive powers,” Tenorio said.

Nov. 26, 2002

Govt warns vs non-issuance of receipts

The government is considering deputizing many of its employees to implement a new law that requires businesses and stores to issue receipts to customers-an effort aimed at better tax enforcement to improved government revenue collection. House Rep. Andrew Salas said the government has lost millions of dollars in revenue that should have gone to the Commonwealth’s coffers if businesses fully declare their gross receipts. “We feel that the government is being cheated of revenue,” Salas said. “Everybody that I have met experienced going to the store without [getting] a receipt.” Salas said the issuance of receipts is mandated by a new law called the Cash Register Act, which was recently signed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta.

House panel to tackle MPLA abolition bill

House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider has instructed his standing committee on natural resources to start weighing the merits of the legislation that proposes to abolish the Marianas Public Lands Authority. The bill, authored by Rep. Gloria DLC. Cabrera, offers to transfer the public agency’s functions to a division within the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. Hofschneider, in an interview yesterday, said the House intends to be methodical in going about House Bill 13-225, by way of conducting hearings or commis-sioning investigations, if needed.