$2.4M earmarked for Kobler housing

Prompt completion of all 45 housing units in Koblerville is now within reach following the signing into law of a measure that appropriates $2.4 million to the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation.

The signing of acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan of House Bill 12-235 into Public Law 12-40 will help NMHC meet its original completion target for the Koblerville project this year, almost two years since actual construction started in 1999.

Housing Executive Director Marylou S. Ada disclosed majority of the units have already been pre-qualified to interested families and that NMHC expects to officially award the units soon after construction work is completed in three months.

NMHC had diligently pressed the Legislature for $2.4 million in total appropriation to install sewer, power and water as well as road infrastructure within the housing project.

Ms. Ada has pleaded to legislators to immediately act on the measure.

The new law is the same bill approved by the lower house but was amended by the Senate to set aside $800,000 for various projects on Rota and Tinian.

She emphasized, however, that $1.6 million was not enough to finish the project, and the $2.4 million was the amount quoted by contractors to install the infrastructure.

NMHC have been consistently working with the applicants for the submission of the required documents that would determine whether or not they can qualify to own a unit in the Koblerville Housing Project.

The housing corporation is right on target in terms of the project’s completion, despite a temporary delay when the Division of Fish and Wildlife previously stopped construction activities due to endangered bird species issues.

Four companies that were not chosen to undertake the $7.3 million housing project in Koblerville last year protested against the selection process made by the government-owned housing corporation.

At least 11 companies had submitted proposals to undertake the construction of the 45 housing units.

NMHC had, however, maintained that the selection process for the $7.3 million is in compliance with the procurement regulations of the government.

The housing project would also involve the construction of equally important infrastructure facilities like roads and sewerlines.

Housing units in CNMI have registered an increasing trend which reflect the increased demand for housing by a growing population and a prospering economy.

More than half of all housing units in the Northern Marianas were built between 1980 and 1995, a period of high growth in population and economic development throughout the islands.