Torres: CW bill hopefully becomes law by mid-July

Hundreds of Filipinos listen as Gov. Ralph DLG Torres delivers his inspirational speech at the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration yesterday at the covered parking lot of Marianas Business Plaza. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has high hopes that the bill to extend the CNMI’s foreign workforce program by 10 years will soon pass the U.S Senate and be signed into law by mid-July.

Speaking at the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration (Pistang Pinoy) yesterday, he said that H.R. 5956, the CNMI Workforce Act, will hopefully be signed by President Donald Trump by mid-July and all issues surrounding the CNMI’s shortage of workers can finally be addressed.

“I am very proud that we have such a good relationship with U.S Congress. H.R. 5956 was recently passed in the House and we continue to communicate with the senators and also the White House…We are hopeful that, by the end of June or mid-July, we will be able to address our CW workers,” he said.

Hundreds of immigrant workers, not just Filipinos, attended the celebration to witness Torres speak and to hear for themselves the good news about H.R 5956’s current standing.

According to Torres, he will continue to fight for immigrant workers who have created lives for themselves in the CNMI.

“As you know, when I was the Senate president…we did public hearings and was the first documented government officer to ever support long-term guest workers. …It is not something that we fought for yesterday or just today. It is a vision that we’ve had for a long time, to do what it takes to protect everyone in our community because your children and my children are the same,” he said.

Torres pointed out that children born to CNMI locals and children born to immigrant workers in CNMI soil are not different.

“Your children, my children, our children, are serving in the U.S armed forces, are teachers, are nurses. You fill all the occupations that we have here in the CNMI…,” he said.

Torres said that immigrant workers are a big part of the CNMI’s economy and played a part in building the CNMI and for making it what it is today.

“Thank you for continuing to make the CNMI your home. It is the reason why we continue to fight in Congress for stability, not just for families, not just for economics, but for our entire future,” he said.

Glicerio Arago, the Philippines’ honorary consul to the CNMI, said that Pistang Pinoy was perfect timing as the celebration happened just as Torres has something positive to share, news that lifted a huge weight from the shoulders of every immigrant worker in the CNMI.

“This is really a cause for celebration and it is perfect timing,” he said.
Pistang Pinoy took place at the covered parking lot of Marianas Business Plaza yesterday from 7am to 10pm in celebration of Philippine Independence Day.
Philippine Independence Day itself falls on June 12.