Manglona is the new CUC board chair

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board of directors elected Miranda Villagomez Manglona yesterday as the new board chairperson.

Board member Jovita Paulino nominated Manglona as the board’s new chair at the CUC board’s meeting at the Commonwealth Development Authority conference room.

The board unanimously approved the selection of Manglona, who is representing Rota.

Weston Deleon Guerrero, who has served as board chair since February, was elected vice chairman. He also chairs the operations committee.

Paulino was chosen secretary. She also chairs the personnel committee.

Matthew Holley is the board’s treasurer. He has no committee yet.

Aschumar Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, who is representing the Commonwealth Development Authority on the board, chairs the board’s finance committee.

CUC’s board has seven members; five sets a quorum.

Manglona said the board is excited to move forward with all CUC projects.

“Right now, we are dealing with restoration. So, this is our main priority at this time—to try to get that on process so we can move forward with our projects,” she said.

Manglona used to work under the administrative section of the Department of Labor. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres appointed her to the CUC board last year.

With the various expertise of board members, they can work together and share ideas and experiences, she said.

“We would try to work with our community and, again, transparency is our major mission. We want to be transparent to the community. We want to get their trust,” she said.

She said the board is open to recommendations and ideas from the public.

Aside from two power engines that CUC is preparing to purchase, CUC has other projects of great importance, she said.

She praised the leadership of executive director Gary P. Camacho, saying that CUC has been moving forward with the restoration after Super Typhoon Yutu, at a much faster rate compared to the time after Super Typhoon Soudelor.

“I think they have been doing a great job. We thank the community also for understanding,” she said.

She hopes that everything will be back to normal on Saipan and Tinian with respect to power and water operations by next year—January and February.

Manglona said that, as Camacho mentioned in his presentation about the progress of restoration efforts after Yutu, if the generators given by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are prepared at the water wells on Saipan, CUC is ready for the next strong typhoon.

“Next time, if we have a typhoon (hope to God it’s not within one or two years), I guess we will be ready,” she said.