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Funding for public market construction project OK’d
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Posted on Jul 22 2004
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to fund the construction of the $500,000-Garapan Public Market using CIP bond interest proceeds.
Before passing House Bill 14-174, the Senate amended the lower house version of the measure, raising the amount from $500,308 to $2,250,308, to be sourced from the remaining bond proceeds, to fund other CIP projects for Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The bill seeks to appropriate $500,000 each for Rota and Tinian, and $750,000 for Saipan.
The six Senate members who were present in Wednesday’s session unanimously passed the bill. Senate President Joaquin Adriano excused senators Luis Crisostimo and Thomas Villagomez from the session, while Paterno Hocog was absent.
According to the bill, expenditure authority over the public market project funds will be the Secretary of Public Works, while that for the islands’ appropriations will be determined by the respective senatorial delegations through local resolution.
With the Senate amending the House version of the bill, the measure will then go back to the Lower Chamber for possible adoption, before going to Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s desk to become law.
The construction of a public market has received strong support from farmers and fishermen, who could sell their produce at the facility once it is erected.
