Flashback April 01, 1999-2003

[B]April 01, 1999

Health eyes cuts to save jobs: Chief[/B]

The Department of Public Health is planning to carry out a seven-hour work per day schedule among the administrative staff since its budget for fiscal year 2000 has only been pegged at $33.9 million. Public Health Secretary Kevin Villagomez said the amount to be saved in work hour reduction would be used in the purchase of medical supplies. “We have no choice but to live within our means because the economic situation only permits us to operate within this level. It is really going to be difficult for us to maintain a huge facility at a very low budget,” he said.

[B]Nine in race for ‘best offer'[/B]

An independent evaluator for the new power plant on Saipan will be given a free hand to undertake the second phase of review on the proposals that fell within the “competitive range” after the initial round, officials assured yesterday. The chair of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, Juan S. Dela Cruz, said nine companies in the list – out of 13 – would be asked to submit their “best and final offers” which is based on the recommendation of Burns & McDonnell, the private engineering firm hired for the independent review.

[B]Governor keeps hands off NMC[/B]

The Board of Regents of the Northern Marianas College will have a free hand in choosing the next leader for the Commonwealth’s only higher learning institution following the retirement of President Agnes McPhetres in December. This assurance came from Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio who said that an official announcement will soon be published to invite candidates for the position.

[B]April 01, 2002

TF targets rehab of youth offenders[/B]

The new Juvenile Crimes Enforcement Coalition said its ultimate goal is to rehabilitate juvenile offenders, instead of subjecting them to incarceration, which has been the usual consequence for criminal wrongdoing. “What has been discussed so far by the task force is to look into developing a program that’s more geared toward putting these kids through rehabilitation and away from incarceration,” Police Sgt. James C. Deleon Guerrero disclosed during a press conference last week.

[B]NMI health clinics whine over delay in payments[/B]

The government’s insurance arm, Group Health and Life Insurance Inc., has been delayed in remitting payments to its third-party administrator, Hawaii Pacific Medical Referral, leading to complaints among local health service providers about not being paid in the last two months. According to Rep. Benjamin B. Seman, several private health care providers on Saipan-TMC, Saipan Health Clinic and Island Medical Clinic-had visited him to raise their concerns about HPMR not paying them in the last 60 days.

[B]New panel eyed to help Tinian tourism[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority disclosed plans to create a task force that would promote and market Tinian as a tourist destination, in anticipation of the entry of direct flights akin to the scheduled completion of the West Tinian Airport project. Board Chair Roman S. Palacios said the ports authority is urging the island’s local government to consider appointing representatives from the private sector and the ports authority to complete the Tinian tourism task force.

[B]April 01, 2003

Anti-SARS measures enforced in airports[/B]

The Transportation Security Administration Saipan Office and the Commonwealth Ports Authority have crafted safety procedures at CNMI airports in efforts to prevent the possible entry of the mysterious disease that is on the rise in other countries.

[B]’Redundant licensing process is primary business deterrent'[/B]

The House Committee on Commerce gathered all government regulating agencies in one room yesterday in a bid to move forward with the years-long goal of streamlining the applications process for business licenses. The meeting came following a unanimous clamor by some 25 local business owners to remove bureaucracy “at its worst” in the business license application process, according to Committee Chairman Rep. Andrew S. Salas, who has been meeting regularly with players in the business community.