FLASHBACK – Jan. 31, 2012

Gov’t tightens entry of balut, salted eggs[/B]

If you’re planning to import balut and salted eggs in large quantity from the Philippines, then you better think twice. The Department of Lands and Natural Resources has recently imposed a new regulation limiting the number of balut and salted eggs that can be brought from the Philippines or other Asian countries. Each passenger can bring in only 12 baluts and 12 salted eggs. According to Dr. Ignacio Dela Cruz, CNMI veterinarian, the restriction was primarily due to lack of manpower and equipment in the Quarantine Division to inspect huge quantities of these eggs, which is meant to prevent the entry of hatching or viable eggs that may become the potential source of new diseases.

The Division of Environmental Quality is targeting hotels, garment factories and construction firms, which are mostly using generators in their operation, in its information drive this year on proper disposal of used oil. As a regulatory agency, DEQ’s concern is focused on ensuring sure that the various businesses are following the proper disposal of used oil since the CNMI lacks the recycling facility. According to Ray Masga, DEQ environmental planner, the agency’s concern is now focused in teaching the employees in these establishments how to dispose of the used oil.

OPA: Insurance firm padded bills[/B]

The NMI Retirement Fund lost an estimated $313,516 on fraudulent claims and over $500,000 in supported claims due to padded bills of physical therapy services rendered by Megaplus International CNMI, Inc. Based on the result of the audit investigation of health insurance payments to Megaplus International, the Office of the Public Auditor disclosed that NMIRF through its Group Health and Life Insurance Branch paid the company over $800,000 on fraudulent health insurance claims of physical therapy services. Public Auditor Mike S. Sablan asked Fund Administrator Juan S. Torres to expedite the hiring of the review utilization board to prevent possible recurrence of this type of problem and the immediate preparation of guidelines for the review and processing of claims.

The Department of Public Health yesterday disclosed the implementation of its Medically Indigent Assistance Plan to ensure the delivery of essential medical and health services to patients who do not have the capability to pay for them on one-time basis. The program helps patients pay medical services through the sliding fee scale program. According to Public Health Secretary Kevin P. Villagomez, the program is a schedule of discounts that would allow patients to pay a percentage of their bill depending on their financial ability. Villagomez explained that MIAP is part of the mission of the health department to provide quality medical care to residents of Northern Marianas regardless of their financial capacity.

CSC, Babauta may go to court[/B]

Should Gov. Juan N. Babauta insist in his appointment of Frank Taitano as director of the Division of Customs, the Civil Service Commission has the option of bringing the matter to the court to prevent Taitano’s assumption. At the same time, the present director of the customs division, Jose Mafnas, may himself take the matter to court and sue the CNMI government for violation of the Civil Service Act. Commission Board Chair Vicente M. Sablan pointed these out, even as he stressed that, as far as the Commission and the Office of Personnel Management is concerned, Mafnas is still the legitimate director of the customs division.

Scrambling to stem the continued hemorrhage in the Commonwealth’s coffers, executive and legislative leaders met yesterday morning to map out strategies that would not only halt the revenue plunge but would also pump up the government’s efforts to generate more income. Both leaderships of the House of Representatives and the Senate met separately and reviewed the talking points outlined in the CNMI Fiscal Outlook Report that was prepared by the Office of the Governor, to see which were implementable and which were not. Although they did not stay long, both Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente personally sat down with Senate leaders, reportedly to inform them of the cost-cutting measures that he wants to implement, as well as to seek feedback from the Legislature on his ideas.