FLASHBACK -Jun. 26, 2012

Jun. 26, 2001

Independent monitors visit garment factories

The local garment industry is currently undergoing a comprehensive evaluation process meant to ensure apparel manufacturers adhere to US standards pertaining to workplace conditions, worker rights and business practices. Independent monitoring inspectors from Global Social Compliance, the off-shore operative of US-based PricewaterhouseCoopers, internationally recognized for its expertise at improving business excellence, were on Saipan earlier this month to check on factories’ compliance with the “Standards for the Treatment of Workers and Working Conditions and Standards for Living” as set forth in the SGMA Code of Conduct.

$17M Kagman sewer system underway

An average of one million gallons of human waste is flushed into septic tanks of Kagman homes everyday, threatening contamination of groundwater in the village where water potability is considered the best on Saipan. “We know that human waste or septic systems can leak and harm our groundwater. Human and animal waste decomposes into a chemical called nitrate,” said Joe Kaipat, manager of the Division of Environmental Quality’s Safe Drinking Water Program. As this developed, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation announced that it has completed the “conceptual design” of a $17 million facility-a sewage collection system and wastewater treatment plant -to be constructed in Kagman.

Jun. 26, 2002

Tebuteb asks for hearing on violations

Rep. Ray Tebuteb, one of three House lawmakers who were cited for violating local environmental laws during a trip to the Northern Islands, has asked for an administrative hearing so he could explain his side on the matter. Tebuteb made the request in a letter addressed to Fish and Wildlife Director Richard Seman. This comes soon after a similar administrative hearing that Rep. Arnold I. Palacios also asked of the agency in the wake of the citation. Palacios said he is now just awaiting the result of the hearing.

RP amends travel tax exemption

The Philippine Tourism Authority announced that Filipino permanent residents abroad are no longer required to submit copies of their returns to avail travel tax exemption privileges. According to a media statement released by the Philippine tourism agency through the Philippine Consulate General, the government’s program exempting Filipinos working and residing abroad from filing Philippine income tax returns to avail travel tax exemption has been waived. Filipinos working abroad will only be required to present their original passport, certificate of residency issued by the Consulate General, and proof of permanent residency including photocopies of ID page of passport and page showing latest arrival date in the Philippines.

Jun. 26, 2003

Deets: Lawsuit is plain harassment

Saipan businesswoman Kerry Deets yesterday branded as harassment the lawsuit that was filed against her and her ex-husband, Matt, by a company that wants to evict her from her Garapan real property. Deets said the published statement of USPG Inc., controlled by businessman Frank Moniz, was “false, misleading and defamatory.” The published article was about the filing of a complaint by USPG at the CNMI Superior Court Tuesday. The company wants to enforce alleged leasehold interests it acquired on the properties Deets and her ex-husband later bought through sale. The leasehold interests were to last for about 40 years more, based on the complaint penned by lawyer Mark B. Hanson.

Changing CRMO functions could threaten federal funding for CNMI

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management has advised Gov. Juan N. Babauta that the CNMI may lose over $1 million in federal funds if a pending Senate measure that seeks to modify the local Coastal Resource Management Program is passed. NOAA told the local chief executive that the proposed changes under Senate Bill 13-37 would disassemble the current, federally-approved CNMI CRMP. NOAA Program Director Eldon Hout warned that this would most likely leave the CNMI without a federally-approved coastal management program.