ROTA OFFICIALS: Earmark public lands for homestead, agriculture

Rota officials are seeking Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio’s support on two measures that will provide homestead and agricultural lots to residents of the island municipality in a bid to secure this early the scarce public lands there for their own use.

Sen. Richardo S. Atalig said he hopes the governor will sign the legislation into law despite potential constitutional problems as a result of provision on who has authority over public lands in the Commonwealth.

One of the bills, called the “Rota Agricultural Homestead Act,” will absorb areas being farmed by about a dozen family on the island which have not been designated by the Division of Public Lands as agricultural lands.

The other measure will set aside tract of public lands as future site for homestead development as some villages on Rota, such as the Sinapalo 3, are already crowded.

“We don’t want to exchange these public lands for other development in the future, other than village and agricultural homestead,” Mr. Atalig told in an interview.

Noting the small land areas on Rota, he said the government must begin to reserve these sites for future generation, within the next 25 to 30 years.

At present, some people have encroached on public lands and turned them into farm with fruit trees and other plants as well as grazing area for livestock, according to Mr. Atalig.

“They have cleared the area and spent so much money and effort,” he explained. “I don’t want them to lose these lands when [DPL] orders them to move out.”

Some residents have approached the senator to address their concern since they fear they would not be able to keep the government property due to the fact they are not designated as agricultural homestead.

While both houses have cleared the two measures, Mr. Atalig said he is uncertain whether the governor will approve or reject the plan.

The CNMI Constitution mandates both DPL and the Board of Public Lands to oversee all matters pertaining to use of these lands, including homestead development.

“What I’m trying to do here is to protect my constituents on Rota. They have come to me and asked me for help,” said the senator. “It’s up to the governor now.”

He agreed, however, that there may be some violations of existing statutes when the people invaded the public lands without permission from the government.

“I know that it is illegal, but what can we do if they have spent so much money clearing the land? They should be included in the designated areas for agricultural homestead,” he pointed out.

As for residential homestead, he said the municipality is eyeing areas such as Dewey, Chude, Ginalangan and Finafa as ideal sites in the future.

“We don’t know whether investors would come in and try to make these areas as golf course or any development. It will leave no space for the next generation to have their village homestead,” said Mr. Atalig.