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Ogumoro wants $150K Managaha fees for cultural events
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Posted on Jan 25 2012
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
House Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan) seeks to appropriate $150,000 in Managaha landing fees to be used for activities during the 2012 Cultural and Heritage Month, but Public Lands Secretary Oscar M. Babauta said yesterday this proposal violates the Constitution and law that restrict the Legislature from directly appropriating income from public lands.
“If DPL allows this bill to pass, then DPL will have to answer to people of Northern Marianas descent I also have a fiduciary responsibility to protect money for NMDs,” Babauta said.
Ogumoro’s House Local Bill 17-71 seeks to appropriate $150,000 from the Managaha Island User Fee Trust Account for the 2012 “Indigenous of the Marianas Conference” and the Chief Aghurubw celebration during the Cultural and Heritage Month.
Of the total amount, $120,000 is proposed to be set aside for the conference, and the remaining $30,000, for the observance of Chief Aghurubw Recognition Week in September.
Under HLB 17-71, the expenditure authority for the funds is the resident executive for indigenous affairs.
