Torres assures funding for NMTI

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres will be meeting with the CNMI Department of Labor to work out giving additional funds from the CNMI-Only Transitional Workers fund to the Northern Marianas Technical Institute.

Speaking at the governor’s radio news briefing last Monday, Torres said that he already gave $500,000 to NMTI from the first Governor’s Economic Recovery Fund. This marked the beginning of the assistance to NMTI.

Torres assured that he will make sure that NMTI will get financial assistance as well as logistics and other systems it needs to be a successful technical institution.

Torres said he has also asked NMTI board of trustees chair Mario Valentino to look into how NMTI can partner up with construction companies to beef up the institution’s construction program, and to also consider assisting Tinian and Rota with their construction needs.

Among other things, Torres recommended a review of the vision and mission of NMTI because “times and the priorities of the CNMI changes.” He added that the administration wants to make sure to give the community a chance to be part of the changes.

“I’ve asked the board to look at and reevaluate what the CNMI needs, labor workforce-[wise], because at this point, we have $244 million on Northern Marianas Housing Corp.-Disaster Relief projects, we have Federal Emergency Management Agency projects, whether it’s be public assistance or hazard mitigation, and additional funding from the American Rescue Plan,” said Torres.

Yet despite all these projects, Torres said there are not enough construction workers in the CNMI, which is why it’s necessary to see how can NMTI partner up with construction companies. Though he isn’t sure that NMTI has instructors who have the special skills for construction, he knows that Valentino is an expert in construction and will pass the knowledge along.

“I know that the board has some experiences, so I am optimistic that if they feel that they believe it’s important for the CNMI that if we don’t have the right instructors, I’m certain that they will bring in the right instructors to teach our folks here and make sure that the foundation of NMTI is done right,” said Torres.

Also speaking at NMTI’s first board of trustees meeting, Torres said he is excited to work with the board of trustees moving forward and assured that the administration’s priority for the instructors and students is to make sure NMTI will be successful.