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‘CDA board sanctioned payment for chair’s work’
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Posted on Mar 23 2006
Since about three years ago, the Commonwealth Development Authority board sanctioned a policy to pay its chairman when he or she performs certain work such as signing off checks and documents during working hours.
CDA board chair Tom Glenn A. Quitugua said this policy was set in place during the term of former chair Sixto Igisomar.
Igisomar, who left the board middle of last year, was and remains employed in the private sector. He had served as CDA board chairman for two years.
“He was constantly brought multitude of documents during working hours. It was decided in unison by the board that it’s proper to pay him for that time taken from his regular work to do CDA matters. It was adopted by the board. Now that policy carries on,” said Quitugua.
Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. had said that information reaching the Office of the Governor showed that the CDA chairman is “getting paid for doing administrative work.”
Reyes cited a $38 payment whenever the board chair “performs administrative work.”
“The administrative work they’re referring is the signing of checks and documents. But this is allowed under the CDA structure,” insisted Quitugua.
He said that, as a resident of Rota and a non-government personnel, he gets paid for signing off CDA checks and documents during regular work-hours.
He said, though, that the rate is $30 for performing the work on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“Remember that I am from Rota. I have to travel to Saipan to do those things. I interrupt my day to sign checks,” said Quitugua.
He said he has only been chairman for eight months.
“There’s nothing illegal in what I’m doing. They can check the CDA records. Everything is documented by CDA,” he said.
Reyes earlier accused the CDA board chair of micromanaging the agency, citing his role in “administrative work.”
The board chair refuted this, maintaining that this is part of his job as chairman. He said all CDA board chairmen have been assigned this work since 20 years ago.
The Governor’s Office is demanding the immediate resignation of Quitugua and two other members, Manny Sablan, and Antonio Borja. Four have turned in their courtesy resignations.
The governor wants to replace all board members with his own appointees.
