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Teno asked to intervene in Koblerville housing project
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Posted on Jul 30 1999
Calls to expedite the Koblerville housing expansion continue to grow as Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho, whose precinct covers the area, has asked the governor to flex his muscles to resolve disputes stalling the project.
“It appears that the exercising of your executive power is needed in order for this project to commence,” he said in his letter to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.
“This project comes at a time when our economy is in need of a shot in the arm. The infusion of jobs and funds into the economy at this critical time is crucial,” added Camacho.
Awarded by the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation to Telesource, the 45-unit housing project has faced difficulties at the Attorney General’s Office as well as the Office of Procurement and Supply over the procurement process adopted by the government agency.
NMHC issued a request for proposal or RFP on the $7 million project instead of an invitation to bid or ITB, the process which should been adopted by the agency, according to AG.
But Camacho backed NMHC officials against its decision to bid out the project, saying he believes in the “integrity and fairness” of the agency to come up with its selection of Telesource.
“This project has been pursued with the same integrity and fairness as with all NMHC projects,” he told the governor.
“I see no need for any further delay of the project. The 45 families that have already been pre-approved for loans have been patiently waiting and anticipating the implementation of this project.”
Options open to NMHC — such as cancellation of the initial procurement to start all over again — to resolve the legal problems are “not advisable or feasible” at this time, according to the legislator, adding that Tenorio’s executive power is the only recourse to push through with the project.
Earlier, the Senate has lashed out at the AGO for allegedly holding up approval on the NMHC’s deal with Telesource announced nearly four months ago.
A resolution adopted by senators early this month threw support behind the RFP process and asked the administrative offices to hasten their approval of the project’s contractor.
