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Austerity affects BMV licensing
The recent government-wide austerity measures are reportedly affecting the licensing services provided by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
In an interview with Department of Public Safety spokesperson Adrian Pangelinan, the BMV will not provide services on “austerity Fridays” or government payday Fridays because they will be closed.
Contrary to rumors, however, BMV will still issue driver’s licenses to new applicants and renewals. But the bureau will only be providing these services, among others, on weekdays and every other Friday.
Despite the austerity measure, though, “we will not stop distributing licenses for the community,” Pangelinan said.
Those who are renewing their license may only renew them 30 days before the expiration date, no earlier.
“Before, BMV would allow renewal for three or even six months before the license expiration. Now, you have to renew 30 days before or on the day of expiration. We are, however, encouraging two weeks before the expiration,” he said.
Pangelinan also said that although there are austerity measures in place, the bureau has not raised the prices for license fees; they all remain the same at $50 for a three-year duration.
Pangelinan said that BMV is just complying with the recently implemented work hour cut.
According to Saipan Tribune archives, under the new work hour cuts, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres reduced the operations of offices under the Executive Branch, starting with the pay period on June 23. Agencies will be closed every payday Friday beginning on July 5 until further notice.
The other branches of the CNMI government also experienced reduction in their budgets.
The government also froze all salary increases and hiring of additional personnel.
