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MVA insists autonomy on travels
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Posted on Mar 06 2006
The Marianas Visitors Authority has approved a travel authorization for one of its personnel to Chuuk without the consent of the Executive Branch.
“I don’t think we have to take that long for approval of a TA [travel authorization]. It’s not necessary. We’re autonomous,” said MVA board member JM Guerrero in a meeting early last week.
In a Jan. 16, 2006, memorandum to department heads, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has prohibited all government departments and activities from using public funds for travels. If travels are deemed extremely important, the governor required concerned offices to seek approval from him.
Following Guerrero’s inquiry on the MVA board’s legal standing to approve a TA, MVA legal counsel Erick Smith also opined that the agency does not have to comply with the order “because it is not directed at us.”
Smith said that MVA is neither a department or an activity.
He said, though, “I don’t think we need to fight [with the administration.”
He recalled that MVA had such a fight with the Executive Branch during the term of former Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio.
He said that, at that time, the court ruled that MVA is a public corporation.
Smith said during the meeting that MVA has a legal standing to approve travel authorizations.
Complying with the governor’s order may be done “for political considerations.”
Meantime, the MVA board said that MVA’s presence in a regional gathering in Chuuk is needed.
The board approved to send MVA marketing program director Wayne Pangelinan to Chuuk.
