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Villagomez underscores need to find ways to keep CNMI economy afloat
House of Representatives Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) said they need to find ways to keep the CNMI economy afloat.
In an interview last week, Villagomez said the main thing that everyone in the House is concerned about is where the CNMI is at financially as a government and if it’s capable of providing services to the public.
He said the economy is the fuel to the services so there is a need to bring in the revenue and allow that to provide these public services.
“That’s the priority right now,” said the speaker, adding that he cannot wait for the day when Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang open up the books so they can see where the CNMI is at financially and work from there. Villagomez noted that one of the CNMI’s saving graces these past couple of years was all the federal funding that the Commonwealth has received from federal partners, U.S. Congress, and federal government.
He said it will be good to see where the CNMI government is now with those fundings, most especially with the American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Last Thursday, Villagomez and some House and Senate members met with Palacios and Apatang where they discussed the state of the CNMI’s economy.
With respect to House committees’ leadership, Villagomez said that, just like what he did in the 22nd House, he will also allow the committee chairs and members to function in their own ways.
