Lot size cut among options for Saipan homestead applicants

Reducing the standard 1,000 square meters for each residential homestead lot and building condominium-type structures are among options that could help accommodate over 3,000 families on the waiting list for homesteads on Saipan where public land is now limited. But Department of Public Lands Secretary Pete A. Tenorio said yesterday he is seeking input from the general public on options they think could best address Saipan’s homestead needs.

Tenorio brought up the issue during the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee’s hearing on DPL’s fiscal year 2015 budget of $3.399 million yesterday.

This is some $2 million less than DPL’s 2014 budget of $5.26 million, only because the 2014 budget includes $2 million for homestead projects that are now moving forward.

Senators took turns asking DPL about the homestead programs on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Unlike other agencies, DPL did not ask for more appropriations from lawmakers.

Tenorio told the senators that because of limited public lands on Saipan for homesteading, there are still over 3,000 on the waiting list.

“We’re running out of public lands,” Tenorio told senators.

The DPL secretary said it’s about time the Legislature start thinking of amending policies and statutes to more practically accommodate families’ housing needs, given the current reality of limited lands.

Hocog, during discussion, said DPL could look into condominium-type or multiple-story buildings to accommodate multiple families on limited public lands. Tenorio said this is one option.

But Tenorio later said this could be costlier for the government. However, private investors could partner with the government to build the properties.

Another option is reducing the 1,000 square meters which is currently the standard size so that more families can be accommodated in limited public lands on Saipan.

“There’s about 3,000 homestead applicants for residential lots. If you multiply 3,000 by 1,000 square meters, that’s 3 million square meters of land, that’s 300 hectares. We cannot find a location that would accommodate that many,” Tenorio said in an interview. “Practically speaking, we cannot accommodate the number of applicants with the available land now if we continue on with the existing practice of giving out homestead lots the size of about 1,000 square meters each to build a house.”

Tenorio said DPL is hoping that the public would also start coming up with suggestions.

“We need ideas to meet the challenge of tomorrow,” he added.