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Ogo is new resident executive for Indigenous Affairs
For a position that has been vacant for over two years, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has appointed an individual for the resident executive for Indigenous Affairs, according to press secretary Ivan Blanco.
Crispin Manglona Ogo—a former House representative from Rota during the 14th and 15th legislatures—was appointed to the position by Torres last Jan. 15.
Ogo intends to expand upon the requirements of the office, Blanco said in an email. Ogo plans to “coordinate the development, distribution, adoption, and translation of a comprehensive history of the Marianas, establish a community foundation for the advancement of the indigenous people, assist and promote local entrepreneurial development, as well as coordinate the translation and distribution of such official documents as the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Covenant and the analyses thereof.”
Ogo also intends to plan for the establishment of “the Indigenous Cultural Center and the Indigenous Hall of Fame, coordinate an annual cultural festival, develop, and implement a long-range plan to assist and promote the entry of the indigenous people into professional and technical institutions of higher education, serve as an advocate of positions taken by indigenous people on issues brought before them, and ensure local participation in executive managerial decision-making in the government and private sector.”
Blanco said that after service to the CNMI, Ogo has been involved with various non-profit organizations in the CNMI and in the U.S. mainland. “Most notably, Mr. Ogo was instrumental in lobbying the Oregon legislature to pass legislation to grant residents of territories and citizens of freely associated states the same privileges as Oregon residents for drivers license renewal dates,” Blanco said.
“It used to be on an yearly basis, but because of this successful revision, residents of the territories and citizens of the freely associated states do not need to renew their drivers license every year.”
Among others non-profits, Ogo is currently working with the San Antonio Community Action Network, which promotes youth and adult activities to combat drug/alcohol abuse.
