FLASHBACK – November 1, 2011

OPA expects closure of more recommendations[/B]

Intensified efforts by the administration of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to improve the delivery of government services have raised hopes that more delinquent recommendations issued by the Office of the Public Auditor will see closure in the next months. This, as the Interagency Audit Coordinating Group has scheduled regular meetings with the OPA and government agencies who are yet to institute actions that would address the problems identified by the Public Auditor in its reports.

The Public School System will begin distributing this week E-rate survey forms that will determine CNMI’s eligibility to apply for technology and telecommunications federal funding in support of ongoing plans to institute a CNMI-wide electronic network infrastructure. PSS Technology Coordinator Mark Savares met yesterday with representatives from each public school to finalize distribution plans as well as to mark the deadline for its submission. Collectively, some 36,000 questionnaires in three sets of languages (Chamorro, Carolinian, and English) will be given out to parents of close to 10,000 students on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.

Rising HIV cases unite agencies[/B]

The rising number of HIV-AIDS cases reported by the Department of Public Health, prompted various government agencies and private organizations to launch a comprehensive awareness program. Officials from the DPH, the Division of Youth Services and other organizations yesterday launched a Commonwealth-wide prevention-education program on HIV/AIDS. “Considering the population, 38 cases can be considered big. Before we think that HIV/AIDS is purely a gay thing. But we proved otherwise,” said DPH Advisor David Rosario. He added that the disease is a heterosexual problem that may be acquired through different means.

Citing the benefits of additional classrooms on Tinian, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio signed into law a bill reallocating $2.79 million for the construction of new classroom buildings and other needed improvements at the Tinian Elementary School. The money will be taken from funds allocated for Tinian under Public Law 11-89, which remain available for reappropriation, according to Tenorio. In his message to legislative leaders, the Governor said the enactment of House Bill 12-411 would allow the Public School System to proceed with the construction of new classrooms on Tinian and other needed projects to improve the school. With Tenorio’s signature, the bill now becomes Public Law 12-69.

Govt hospital lacks pediatrician[/B]

The Commonwealth Health Center has a shortage of pediatricians since last month, with an advisory from the public hospital noting that the situation is expected to persist up until November 2002. This, as the CHC advised the public to wait or seek medical attention from private clinics on the island. The advisory, posted outside the CHC pediatric unit entrance, warned that patients would have to endure a “long wait or you may want to consider going to other clinics.” According to the CHC, Dr. Roopal Patel has been the only pediatrician attending to patients since last month, after another pediatrician, Dr. Judith Voros, reportedly took a leave.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority yesterday disclosed that additional facilities will be added to the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of federal security measures. Aside from the deployment of Transportation Security Administration screeners at the air transport facility, the local ports authority said a multi-million-dollar scanning machine will be installed at the airline counter to inspect check-in luggage. CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas also said that an additional screening lane will be constructed in the next few weeks to ensure effective inspection of departing passengers. “Right now, we have two lanes for the screening process of departing passengers and we would be adding one more lane,” Salas explained.