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‘Fuel concerns hampering community work’
Long queues and a cap on the amount of gasoline that can be bought from gas stations throughout Saipan is hampering ongoing community works, according to some lawmakers.
Rep. Vinson Sablan (Ind-Saipan), in a post on social media, said he has “two trucks working the community providing assistance.”
“The thing is, I’m using my own personal vehicles (so no govt LP) to service the community and we are flying through $20 gas like nothing. Is there a way to have assisting vehicles gas more than $20?” Sablan said.
Aside from vehicles, Sablan said his staff also need gas for chainsaws and other equipment. “My office is providing public service but we can’t work with $20 rations,” he said.
Shell and Mobil have since raised the cap to $50 per customer.
Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), who is also a member of the minority bloc, expressed his disappointment regarding water companies not being able to deliver water because of difficulties in securing gasoline.
“If water companies cannot get fuel to deliver drinking water to stores and to residents in villages, then our people will continue to suffer,” Propst said. “Most of the roads are now cleared, so the only thing that is stopping deliveries is the fact that water company trucks have no access to fuel. Seriously?”
He is urging the government to allow water companies to “be prioritized and allowed to purchase fuel just like government emergency vehicles.”
“We do not need FEMA or the federal government or the Red Cross to deliver water to our people. This does not require an act of Congress. It simply requires an executive order,” Propst said.
He added that while “our hardworking front line personnel in multiple agencies bust their tails and work day and night in cleaning, clearing, cutting, replacing, repairing, and doing everything else in between, it is up to the Executive and Legislative Branch to provide the needed relief.”
Propst vowed to dedicate “every dollar in our office funds to get water and food and supplies to our people in our villages.” (Joel Pinaroc)
