Previous Story
Finance scouting for emergency funds
|
Posted on May 31 2005
The Department of Finance is asking other government agencies for any available funds that can be used for the state of emergency declaration on utilities.
Finance Secretary Fermin M. Atalig said yesterday that he would ask the heads of self-generating autonomous agencies such as the Marianas Public Lands Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, and even the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to provide his office with financial reports.
“We want to know their financial status in our efforts to identify funds that can be tapped by the governor for the state of emergency,” said Atalig in an interview.
The governor, who declared a state of disaster emergency on May 19 due to continued power failures, has the authority to tap all government funds to resolve the crisis.
As of now, Atalig said that the government has not identified public funds for the governor’ emergency use.
“That’s why we’re asking certain government agencies to show us their finances so we would know how much can we pull together,” he said.
The governor earlier said that his two immediate goals would be to secure a long-term contract with CUC and to repair rundown power plant engines in Lower Base to boost power services.
The government and Mobil have yet to finalize their agreement on fuel.
CUC reportedly spends an average of $3 million a month in fuel consumption.
