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Atalig expects an audit on nearly $1B federal funding
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Posted on Nov 02 2020
Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig expects an audit on the nearly $1 billion cumulative amount that the CNMI has so far been allocated in federal assistance since Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018, especially with the situation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act.
Speaking at a radio press briefing last Thursday, Atalig said they are in communications with different agencies in the federal government, especially the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, regarding the stimulus checks, as well as the educational support the CARES Act gave the Northern Marianas College and the Public School System.
“We are also in communication with our own auditors who want to sample information on those funding,” Atalig said.
He clarified that the nearly $1 billion is a combination of both federal aid from the disaster relief from typhoons Yutu and Mangkut in 2018, plus the CARES Act funding.
“So yes, an audit is going to be a major factor in ensuring that that these funds are properly spent and accounted for,” Atalig said.
He said the Office of Insular Affairs is also helping the CNMI obtain modules or new software to ensure that financial management and the procurement of federal grants management is there so that they can ensure that accurate data of the resources received and how much they’ve spent are accurately recorded.
Citing figures provided by the CNMI Office of Grants Management, the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers recently disclosed that the CNMI is looking at nearly $1 billion worth of grants that would help the islands recover from Typhoons Manghut, Yutu, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
