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JG Sablan pins hopes on lawmakers
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Posted on May 30 2006
JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc. is banking on the lawmakers’ support to get his Pagan mining permit reinstated.
John T. Sablan, the owner and president of JG Sablan, received a Senate resolution yesterday endorsing his company’s joint venture with Bridgecreek International Corp. on the Pagan mining project.
Authored by Sen. Luis Crisostimo, Senate Resolution 15-14 also asks Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to reinstate JG Sablan’s 1995 permit to extract pozzolan from Pagan.
“We hope that the permit will be reinstated soon. [Bridgecreek] says it’s okay for them to wait if it doesn’t take too long. I don’t know how long they can wait, but I’m guessing, a couple of months maybe,” Sablan said in an interview.
He said the joint venture company could mobilize and commence mining operations within three months of having the permit reinstated.
Senate President Joseph Mendiola reiterated the Senate’s full support for JG Sablan and Bridgecreek’s plan. The Senate had earlier passed a bill that would reinstate JG Sablan’s mining permit.
According to Mendiola, the proposed legislation is expected to pass the House of Representatives within this week.
Sablan expressed hope that the measure would be enacted. He said the lawmakers had “promised to override” a possible veto by the governor. “But I hope it doesn’t come to that point,” he said.
Senate Bill 15-45 is likely to face strong opposition from Rep. Cinta Kaipat. She is a member of the watchdog organization PaganWatch, which has pushed for the termination of JG Sablan’s mining permit. Kaipat and the rest of PaganWatch are also actively involved in the Pagan Mining Task Force, a group of government officials and community members that is now drafting the bid for Pagan mining operations.
In related news, the Senate also presented yesterday a resolution commending Cecilia Taitano-Celes for her leadership role in coordinating the 25th Flame Tree Arts Festival.
The festival was held in late April 2006 and attracted participants from all over the Pacific, including Yap, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Hawaii, Guam, Rota, and Tinian.
