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Quitugua joins call to stop lease of limited public lands
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Posted on Mar 16 2015
Sen. Justo S. Quituga (Ind-Saipan) has joined the call to prevent the lease of public lands and instead prioritize private properties.
Quituga said he has filed a Senate resolution requesting the Department of Public Lands to “encourage new investors to lease or purchase private lands before engaging in leasing public lands so that the limited public lands are reserved for homesteading programs.”
Quituga’s resolution, S.R. 19-05, said public lands are “diminishing” while privately owned lands in the Commonwealth are in “great abundance” and are sitting idle.
The senator hopes his resolution can address the economic hardships of many local families due to the high cost of living, utilities and health care, and education.
While Quituga is offering an alternative for DPL, two lawmakers are directly urging the department to cease the lease of public lands.
DPL’s announcement that it is in talks with Best Sunshine International, Ltd. to lease 40 hectares of public land in Marpi drew strong reactions from lawmakers who are strongly urging Best Sunshine and the DPL to go for private lands, considering that some of the public lands eyed for lease are still occupied by residents and are being used for other purposes.
The Marpi land, according to Rep. Roman Benavente (Ind-Saipan), has always been home to historical shrines.
“Best Sunshine and the DPL should strike the right balance,” Benavente said. “What will happen to the local residents once these lands are leased?” He said there are some 6,000 residents of Northern Marianas descent who are in Marpi.
According to the lawmaker, Best Sunshine should buy more private lands to help more members of the community. He also questions why DPL is eyeing 40 hectares of public land for Best Sunshine, which he said is “too big.”
Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) echoed Benavente’s comments, saying DPL should stop “giving away public lands.”
