MPLT funds sought to boost rebuilding efforts

The administration of Gov. Eloy S. Inos is looking at funds generated from the rental and leasing of Northern Marianas land to help with rebuilding efforts after Typhoon Soudelor and Typhoon Champi and sent yesterday a request to the Marianas Public Lands Trust for a meeting at the earliest opportunity.

Acting governor Ralph DLG Torres has written to acting Marianas Public Lands Trust chair Pedro R. Deleon Guerrero to request a discussion concerning the potential use of MPLT funds to “assist much-need recovery efforts here on Saipan for persons of Northern Mariana Descent.”

Torres, in his letter yesterday to Deleon Guerrero, cites Article XI of the CNMI Constitution, which states that that use of public land shall be for “the benefit of the people of the Commonwealth who are of Northern Marianas descent.”

“Many citizens of NMD are presently suffering greatly following the arrival of [t]yphoons Soudelor and Champi,” Torres said.

“Homes have been lost, property destroyed and lives upended.”

Torres said the damage has not all been fixed or repaired and he believes “we need to do more [help] NMDs.”

“Use of public funds generated from the rental and leasing of NMI public lands to help these persons of NMD would obviously be a great benefit,” Torres said.

“While I am aware that there are limits to the purposes for which the funds held by the Trust, I would like to open the discussion as to the urgent need for individuals of Northern Marianas descent to rebuild their homes using Trust funds in some fashion,” Torres said in his letter yesterday. “I would like to work with you toward that goal and propose a meeting at the earliest opportunity.”

Torres’ letters come in line with his office’s work as the primary agency coordinating government support in recent weeks to the CNMI Commonwealth Advocates for Recovery Efforts group, or CARE, whose main push has been for home rebuilding in the CNMI after Typhoon Soudelor.

Other than immediate funding and resources, the group has faced limitations from finding floor plans that are up to code and structurally sound and approved by an architect and an engineer. The group has networked to reach out to contractors from the mainland U.S. and expect and influx of stateside contractors coming to aid efforts, Saipan Tribune learned yesterday.

CARE aims to work with the contractors to make them hire more people if they agree to lower cost of their product, and are developing criteria to have “CARE-sanctioned” contractors who would be advertised by the group in turn for helping those in need and affordable prices, Saipan Tribune learned.

CARE is an independent organization comprised of a diverse array of non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and non-profit foundations from around the community and has been meeting weekly to implement a strategic plan for long-term recovery and multi-hazard mitigation.