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Separate utility rates for Rota, Tinian questioned
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Posted on May 17 2006
Rota Sen. Paul A. Manglona raised concern yesterday about an executive order granting the power to establish utility rates to the top manager of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Manglona said he intended “to stop the government from this short sighted action.” But first, he needed the Senate legal counsels to research whether the executive order’s provision was constitutional.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s May 5, 2006 order allows the CUC executive director to establish separate rates for Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The order will become effective in less than two months.
“By granting this power to the executive director, we vest this authority entirely in a single individual. As the Executive Order seeks to limit the board to an advisory role, it is my concern that this could lead to inequitable rate structures across the islands by leaving Rota and Tinian without representation when adjusting rate schedules,” Manglona said.
He argued that the Constitution required that public services be provided on an equitable basis to CNMI citizens.
Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. said the establishment of new rate schedules was meant to address the different costs of power production in different islands.
“We are part of the same Commonwealth but it doesn’t mean that we are necessarily going to have the same cost. As you know, a lot of things are more costly on Tinian or Rota than on Saipan. Of course, we’re trying to reduce costs, but at the same time the government cannot continue to bear the costs,” Reyes said.
Manglona maintained that different islands should be treated similarly when dealing with public services. “We fought a long battle with the phone company, even going so far as fighting in court, to drop the inter-island toll charge. This executive order could represent a giant step backwards,” he said.
