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Bill to grant homestead lots to at least 25 people
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Posted on Oct 12 2004
At least 25 couples or individuals stand to receive homestead lots once Gov. Juan N. Babauta signs a bill expanding the list of persons qualified to obtain agricultural homestead permits.
The Senate has passed House Bill 14-31, which would require the Marianas Public Lands Authority to grant titles to local residents previously excluded in the list of qualified people.
Introduced by Reps. David M. Apatang, Jesus T. Attao, and Arnold I. Palacios, the bill was earlier passed unanimously by the House of Representatives. It will be transmitted to the Governor’s Office for approval.
The measure seeks to amend the Homestead Waiver Act, which was enacted to waive homestead requirements for qualified people who have used public lands for agricultural purposes for over 15 years before the Covenant and the CNMI Constitution became effective on Jan. 9, 1978.
In mid-1990s, MPLA established a list of persons that might be qualified. MPLA, however, excluded the names of certain persons who may otherwise be qualified and declined to grant them land titles.
H.B. 14-31 would instruct MPLA “to review all pending and past claims made pursuant to [the Homestead Waiver Act], grant title to public land to qualified persons who did not receive title… because of his or her exclusion from the list, and publish and submit an annual report detailing the claims made and the decisions rendered on such claims to the Legislature and the Office of the Governor.”
The proposed legislation would also extend the time limitation for new claims from 12 years to 25 years, after Feb. 9, 1981.
Persons who would be affected by the enactment of the measure include Ernesto M. and Maria C. Itibus; Carlos C. and Elizabeth P. Villagomez; Vicente S. Palacios; Rita P. Palacios; Daniel P. Castro; Agustin B. and Lorna B. Matagolai; Regina B. Matagolai; Tobias C. Aldan; Mariano B. Kaipat; Ambrosio S. Ruben; Lucio C. Aldan; Antonio C. Kaipat; Jesus C. Aldan; Pedro P. Tagawa; Joaquin C. Lizama; Felipe SN. Camacho; Erneo B. Dela Cruz; Santiago V. Castro; Pedro P. Castro; Mark I. Palacios; Mr. and Mrs. Francisco C. Castro; Mr. and Mrs. Crispin I. Deleon Guerrero; Conrado DLG. Crisostomo; Antonio I. Deleon Guerrero; Pedro M. Aguon, and all other persons who may be deemed qualified by MPLA.
