DPW: ‘PSS Lake’ a problem for 4 years

The Public School System’s flood problem at the Pupil Transportation Office in Lower Base finally got the attention of the Department of Public Works’ newly appointed secretary, Jose Demapan, and his staff.

Demapan, together with DPW Technical Services Division director Richard Cody and other DPW engineers, went down to the office Friday afternoon to check on the situation but found that the so-called “lake” had already receded.

“There was no flooding affecting the operational buses,” said DPW public information officer Felipe Atalig Friday.

The PTO office bus parking lot was submerged under several inches of water early Tuesday morning due to the heavy rains over the weekend.

Atalig said that, based on their inspection, the bus depot is situated near a constant wetland, so water would always overflow to the parking lot. He said the new secretary had already directed Cody to draw up plans to solve the problem.

Atalig told Saipan Tribune that the problem has been going on for four years now. He said there is no definite timeframe as to when the problem would finally be solved as there are other factors that might affect the project.

“There is a private land situated adjacent to the PSS office,” he said, adding that the department would have to course some of the requests to the appropriate agencies and individuals before they act on the problem.

“But the secretary, even though it was only his first few days in office, is keen to solve the problem as soon as possible,” said Atalig.

The DPW will have to work with other agencies such as the Coastal Resource Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Division of Environmental Quality in finding a solution to the situation.

An interim solution to the problem, said Atalig, would be to clear the drainage within the area.

The stagnant pool of water almost covered the entire parking lot of the PSS Pupil Transportation Office last Tuesday, forcing school bus drivers to wear rubber boots just to board their vehicles for their daily rounds.

PTO bus team leader Steven Pangelinan earlier said he had called the DEQ Tuesday morning, but the agency referred his case to DPW. He then called DPW but was told that the DPW is still waiting for funding from the Workforce Investment Office.

“PSS Lake” was initially reported in November 2005, days after the CNMI general election. Officers from DPW and DFW visited the site immediately to inspect the severe flooding; even an officer from WIA arrived to survey the ponding of the water.

After that initial visit, though, none of them returned to solve the problem, Pangelinan said. The stagnant water has now become a habitat not only for tilapias but also for eels. The bus drivers said the heavy rains only exacerbate the situation and the stagnant water emanates a foul odor that could be smelled throughout the compound. The water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.