Senate OKs 2 CUC board appointees

The Senate approved yesterday two nominees to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors, representing Rota and Tinian.

Both Jovita SN Paulino and Miranda V. Mangloña were approved to occupy the CUC board as representatives of Tinian and Rota, respectively.

Both Paulino and Mangloña were recommended by their respective mayor’s offices prior to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres nominating them to the board.

During Mangloña’s public hearing last Tuesday, CUC executive director Gary Camacho expressed his support for Mangloña to represent Rota.

CUC Rota deputy director Charles Mangloña also expressed his support in a written testimony dated Oct. 20, 2017.

The letter said that CUC is “fortunate to have a candidate of [Miranda’s] caliber and dedication,” adding that Miranda cares “deeply about the quality of utility services for all people in the CNMI.”

“I am excited and looking forward to doing what I need to do,” said Paulino, adding that her view of CUC changed after she toured the CUC office in Dandan last Tuesday.

“I am looking forward to working with [Camacho],” said Paulino.

Mangloña, on the other hand, plans to restore the trust of CUC customers through transparency.

“We need to have a reliable, sustainable, and affordable utilities corporation for our community,” said Mangloña, not only for Saipan but also on Tinian.

“I am ready to work with [Camacho], the [other] board of directors of CUC, and CUC staff and management,” she said.

Mangloña has an administrative background with the Department of Public Safety before moving over to the Department of Labor and dealing with “personnel matters.”

According to Mangloña, whenever the Labor chief was off-island, she would take over the department. “I know the process of managing an entire department and its personnel,” she said.

Paulino also has background with “enforcement” but did not specify which. Paulino was involved with the Public School System from 1993 to 2008. “When I got back here, I…went into a new aspect of employment, which is working for the Tinian Mayor’s Office, which is very challenging and very [enjoyable],” she said.

“I am looking forward to working with [Mangloña], the other board members, and the executive director,” she said.

With the addition of Paulino and Mangloña, the CUC board is one step closer to completing its board. As of publication, the board consists of Commonwealth Development Authority representative Ignacio Perez, Saipan representatives Matthew Holly and Weston Deleon Guerrero, Rota representative Mangloña, and Tinian representative Paulino.