House may accept changes to Kobler bill

The House of Representatives will likely accept amendment inserted by the Senate on the measure appropriating $2.4 million for the much-delayed Koblerville housing project when it resumes session on January 29.

Acting Speaker Oscar M. Babauta yesterday assured he does not see any problem approving the rider to the House bill, saying “it will not necessarily impede the project or halt its construction.”

During its session the other day, the upper house made a last-minute decision to insert a provision which commits $1 million in interest expected to be earned from the $60 million bond flotation of the Commonwealth Development Authority to be divided equally to fund capital improvement projects on Rota and Tinian.

The move is expected to further push construction at a cost of $2.4 million of sewer, power, water and road infrastructure to complete the Koblerville project which is being supervised by the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation.

According to Mr. Babauta, it will be a priority bill when the lower house resumes its session on Jan. 29. Some of the members, including Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, are currently off-island.

“We will act on the Senate amendment as soon as possible so the families awaiting to move to their new homes will no longer have to wait further,” he told in an interview.

But he expressed concern that senators have to amend the legislation when NMHC officials are already asking the Legislature to expedite its passage.

“The House is concerned time and again that the Senate has inserted a rider to the measure,” said Mr. Babauta.

The appropriation bill is the same one approved months ago by the House, but the Senate amended to cut $800,000 from the amount to set aside for Rota and Tinian projects.

But since NMHC had opposed the move, the lower house was prompted to recall it and passed HB 12-301 as requested by the housing corporation.

NMHC Executive Director Marylou S. Ada has said they cannot begin work on the project as scheduled as the measure has to go back to the House for approval.

This means that the 45 families may have to wait until June the completion of the much-needed infrastructure improvement. Ms. Ada noted there is no assurance at all that bond proceeds will earn $1 million in interest within one year.

The $2.4 million will come from the interest earned from the $140 million worth of bonds floated in 1987 by the CNMI which is the only viable source of funding for the 45-unit Koblerville housing project.