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‘CUC not using $3M 702 funding for Rota’
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Posted on Dec 26 2008
Rota has almost $3 million in Covenant Section 702 funding that has been sitting for a couple of years because the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is not pushing to do the projects, according to the island’s senator, Paul A. Manglona.
Manglona told Saipan Tribune that CUC is the expenditure authority for the 702 funding, but the utility agency is not moving the projects.
“We need to use our 702 funding not only because they are available, but because the projects are very critical as far as power distribution and overhauling of our two engines [is concerned],” said Manglona, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications.
The projects include overhauling of the power engines, power distribution, and water distribution.
Manglona said Rota has been very flexible with CUC because the electric power issue on Saipan is in crisis mode.
“But nonetheless Rota has funding available from 702 for many years now for power distribution, water line projects and we need CUC to put maybe one or two more technical people in there to move these capital improvement projects,” the senator said.
Right now, Manglona said, CUC executive director Tony Muña is overwhelmed with his work and that he needs help.
“I think he needs maybe one or two more technical people to focus on Rota and Tinian issues because there’s so many 702 funding that are not being used,” he pointed out.
The senator said they understand that CUC’s focus right now is in putting Saipan’s power engines back on line, that’s why Rota has been very understanding.
”But CUC cannot just drop the ball on everything. They need to get maybe one or two more technical people to move these projects,” he said.
Manglona said 702 funding could possibly be used to pay for the salaries of these technical personnel.
