FLASHBACK – August 1, 2011

PSS CIP project award streamlined[/B]

With over two-thirds of $29 million in PSS CIP bond funding already awarded or in the process, the Public School System and the Department of Public Works have sat down to identify ways to get projects approved and contracts awarded more quickly. Following a recent meeting with administration officials over PSS concerns that projects were not moving quick enough, the school system and DPW have adopted several new procedures aimed at expediting the process. PSS has assumed the responsibility of routing all contracts and related documents to the appropriate signatories, including Procurement and Supply. The governor’s Special Assistant for Administration Joe I. Guerrero will oversee the routing process, and any delays beyond a new processing timeline will now have to be justified.

In a move to further enhance public education in the CNMI, two of the Commonwealth’s board of policy makers are eyeing closer collaboration through joint board meetings meant to maximize local education resources. The Public School System Board of Education and the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents have reached an agreement to begin formal joint board meetings aimed at improving existing educational programs in the CNMI. Joint discussions are eyed to pool resources and ideas to tackle some of the current challenges facing the education community, including personnel shortage, changes proposed by legislation, and the need for capital improvement.

Senate probes CIP procurement[/B]

A review of the procurement process for Capital Improvement Projects is in the offing after the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigation agreed to call for an oversight hearing that will take up the matter. During a meeting with members of the panel on Monday, Committee Chair Sen. Joaquin G. Adriano said that they were prompted to call for the oversight hearing after noting that the present procurement system for CIP projects seems to be engendering a number of problems. “We continue to see an increase in the number of protests during CIP biddings and we want to address this situation by looking at the procurement procedures, identifying any deficiencies it may have and then come up with a law that will streamline the process,” Adriano said.

The Northern Marianas should grab the opportunity in tapping the huge Chinese travel market, as the country starts reaching out to other nations in line with its globalization approach. A report submitted by various China-based travel agencies commissioned by the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino disclosed that the CNMI may be able to lure at least 700,000 visitors from China each year through charter flights. Tinian Dynasty Hotel Manager Tom Liu recently submitted to the Marianas Visitors Authority a set of recommendations gathered by travel agents in China.

Support pours for Rotary fundraiser[/B]

Assistance poured for Rotary Club of Saipan’s humanitarian project that was launched to raise money to aid the victims of Typhoon Chata’an in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. As of yesterday afternoon, the fundraising project received over $14,000 worth of pledges made by Saipan listeners to four radio stations on the island participating in the humanitarian effort. The radio stations received pledges from throughout Saipan as early as 7am. The pledges range from $10 to $500. Money that will be raised from the project will be used to buy medical supplies for typhoon victims in Chuuk.

In a continuing effort to expand the richness and diversity of its course offerings, the Northern Marianas College’s Division of Instruction is introducing several new courses this Fall semester. In response to numerous student requests, the Languages, Literature and Communication Department is offering Elementary Spanish I (SP 101), a beginning level course in one of the world’s most widespread languages. Also offered for the first time is an expanded course in one of the Commonwealth’s indigenous languages, Elementary Carolinian I (CA 101), which includes listening/speaking and reading/writing components for beginners. The Health, Physical Education and Athletics Department is introducing two new courses—Windsurfing (PE 165), and Fitness for Sports (PE 147), a comprehensive approach to achieving all-around physical fitness.