Babauta lists down accomplishments

One hundred days after coming to power in January 14, the Babauta administration has identified 11 major accomplishments, with the 7.5-percent reduction in government spending taking first rank.

In a statement faxed to media offices, the Governor’s Public Information and Protocol Office said that, in the first two full months of the new administration, overall government spending dropped 7.5 percent compared to the same period last year, following an expenditure control directive issued in late January.

Advances made in the tourism sector took second honors, with the new tourism market opened up in China cited as a result of improvements made in the CNMI immigration process. “The Korean market is on the rebound,” the statement added.

The comprehensive tourism strategy developed by public and private sectors aimed at attaining the administration’s goal of 100,000 more Japanese visitors this year was also cited, with the request for the $2 million funding now forwarded to the Legislature.

In a bid to underscore the government’s stance toward education as a top priority, the Babauta administration promises to maintain the Public School System’s funding level despite the government-wide budget cut by committing to reprogram funds to education.

Other education-related accomplishments were the completion of the $5.5-million Tinian High School project that was infused with an additional $2 million from Compact Impact money.

“The final scope of work for [the] next phase of construction [has been] approved [and] completed project will include gymnasium, baseball field with bleachers, track and field, eight classroom, and renovations and repair of existing structures.

Other accomplishments cited were:

Facilitation of Investment/Business

• Environmental accord signed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the Saipan Upland Mitigation Bank. The bank will provide protected area for the endangered nightingale reed warbler, allowing development on prime investment land to proceed elsewhere on Saipan.

• Backlog of non-resident worker permits reduced through implementation of new policies and procedures.

Strengthening of CNMI and National Security

• Security for CNMI airports addressed with Federal Aviation Administration. Electronic monitoring system implemented at Saipan International Airport to identify arriving and departing non-residents.

Strengthening of Government-Business Partnership

• Discussions with Legislature and business leaders concerning policy issues on minimum wage, immigration and other areas of mutual concern.

Protection of Environment

• Construction started on Marpi Sanitary Landfill, which would allow closure of Puerto Rico Dump. Landfill completion and dump closure are both scheduled for this year.

Enhancement of Community Safety

• Construction started and proper security and rehabilitatiorr of detainees prioritized for Saipan Adult and Immigration Detention E;acility.

Meeting of Health Needs

• Completion of Rota Health Center project. Construction plans to complete project under review to ensure compliance with Medicare and building safety requ?rements.

• Construction manager under selection for new $5.6 Public Health annex to support 24 additional hemodialysis units.

Strengthening of regional, federal and foreign ties

• Support gained from National Governors Association for non-voting CNMI delegate in Congress.

• Support gained from Sen, Dan?el Akaka for efficient local control of immigration and minimum wage.

• Alliance with Guam and American Samoa renewed under Pacific Basin Development Bank. Memorandum of understanding signed with National Labor Relations Board renewing commitment to protect workers rights.

• Department of Commerce tapped to assist CNMI with tourism recovery efforts and other economic development initiatives.

• Support gained from consul generals of Japan, the Philippines, and Palau for first-ever consul generals summit to boost economic and other ties.

Enhancement of Public Service

• Responsiveness of departments to community needs improved by establishment of short- and long-term goals, objectives, and plans to accomplish goals of each department.