Flashback April 1, 1999-2003

[B][U]April 1, 1999[/U][/B] [B]Health eyes cuts to save jobs[/B]

The Department of Public Health is planning to carry out a seven-hour work per day schedule among the administrative staff since its budget for fiscal year 2000 has only been pegged at $33.9 million. Public Health Secretary Kevin Villagomez said the amount to be saved in work hour reduction would be used in the purchase of medical supplies. “We have no choice but to live within our means because the economic situation only permits us to operate within this level. It is really going to be difficult for us to maintain a huge facility at a very low budget,” he said. Eighty percent of the $33.9 million budget will go to salaries of personnel alone while the remaining amount will be spent on operations.

[B]Nine in race for ‘best offer'[/B]

An independent evaluator for the new power plant on Saipan will be given a free hand to undertake the second phase of review on the proposals that fell within the “competitive range” after the initial round, officials assured yesterday. The chair of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Juan S. Dela Cruz, said nine companies in the list—out of 13—would be asked to submit their “best and final offers” which is based on the recommendation of Burns & McDonnell, the private engineering firm hired for the independent review. He is not clear, however, on how the second round will be conducted as Enron International, which is closely competing to seal the $120 million contract, has raised questions on the procedures.

[B][U]April 1, 2002[/U][/B] [B]Farallon bombing continues[/B]

The U.S. Navy’s disposition to continue with the bombing exercises on Farallon de Mendinilla despite a federal court order declaring such practice illegal became more apparent, as it disclosed extending the schedule of live fire training that was supposed to end last night. The Emergency Management Office released a new advisory stating that the military would be conducting live fire training this April. “Due to the danger imposed by this activity, the general public, especially fishermen, commercial pilots and tour operators, are advised to stay away from this location during the time and dates indicated,” the advisory stated.

[B]TF targets rehab of youth offenders[/B]

The new Juvenile Crimes Enforcement Coalition said its ultimate goal is to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, instead of subjecting them to incarceration, which has been the usual consequence for criminal wrongdoing. “What has been discussed so far by the task force is to look into developing a program that’s more geared toward putting these kids through rehabilitation and away from incarceration,” Police Sgt. James C. Deleon Guerrero disclosed during a press conference last week. Deleon Guerrero, however, said that before a rehabilitation program can be established, the task force has to assess existing programs in the juvenile justice system and gauge their effectiveness.

[B][U]April 1, 2003[/U][/B] [B]Anti-SARS measures enforced in airports[/B]

The Transportation Security Administration Saipan Office and the Commonwealth Ports Authority have crafted safety procedures at CNMI airports in efforts to prevent the possible entry of the mysterious disease that is on the rise in other countries. TSA Saipan Director John T. Peoples disclosed that a number of masks and sanitizers were immediately distributed to all screeners deployed at the Saipan, Tinian, and Rota airports as preventive measure against contracting the disease-called severe acute respiratory syndrome-from inbound passengers. Although there is no immediate risk, Peoples explained that TSA received an advisory from the Department of Public Health regarding the spread of SARS.

[B]DPH issues travel advisory for SARS[/B]

Commonwealth-bound travelers arriving from Hong Kong; Guangdong, China; Vietnam; and other Asian countries identified to have been affected by the deadly illness known as severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, need to monitor their health and seek medical help immediately when necessary, according to the Department of Public Health. The DPH, in an advisory released yesterday, said that recent travelers need to monitor their health for at least seven days. “During your recent travel, you may have been exposed to SARS. If you become ill with fever accompanied with cough or difficulty in breathing, you should consult a physician,” DPH acting secretary Joaquin I. Taitano said.