Senate confirms Sixto Igisomar as Commerce secretary

 The Senate confirmed yesterday the governor’s appointment of Sixto K. Igisomar as Department of Commerce secretary, less than  two hours after a public hearing on his nomination and over a year since Igisomar first held the post in an acting capacity after  Michael Ada stepped down.

Igisomar is both Commerce secretary and chairman of the NMI Retirement Fund board of trustees, two posts he can serve at the same time based on a review of statutes and rules, said Fund board legal counsel Viola Alepuyo who also testified in support of Igisomar’s confirmation.

Igisomar told senators he will be serving both posts to the best of his abilities.

All eight senators present voted to confirm Igisomar; Sen. Luis Crisostimo (Ind-Saipan) is still on medical leave.

About a dozen testified in support of Igisomar’s confirmation during the Senate Committee on Executive Appointment and Governmental Investigations’ public hearing that wrapped up past 12pm.

In less than two hours, the Senate adopted the EAGI Committee report recommending his confirmation.

“I feel awesome,” Igisomar told Saipan Tribune shortly after his confirmation.

Igisomar was joined by his mother Consolacion and wife Catherine in the Senate gallery during the Senate confirmation.

“Hard working,” “someone with deep knowledge and understanding of business and commerce,” “professional,” and “straightforward” were some of the words used to describe Igisomar at the public hearing.

Among those who presented and testified in support were special assistant for administration Esther Fleming, Dr. John Joyner, Commerce’s Mark Rabauliman, press secretary Angel Demapan, Public Lands Secretary Oscar M. Babauta, retiree Lino Tenorio, House Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan), Ramon Quichocho, Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan), and Fund board legal counsel Viola Alepuyo.

Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), Senate EAGI Committee chair, also announced receiving at least 10 letters in support of Igisomar’s confirmation.

Igisomar told senators at the public hearing that he brings with him “an experience of life in the Mariana Islands; understanding the community and the culture; education from here and abroad; as well as my work and volunteer experience both in the private and public sectors.”

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial submitted Igisomar’s name to the Senate on Nov. 9, 2011.