Fitial commits CIP funds for run-down GTC bldgs.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial will continue the renovation of the Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, committing to reprogram 702 monies for the school to replace the grant funds that it was supposed to get.

Fitial, who was in the U.S. mainland Friday, said in an e-mail that when the Board of Education submitted the list of projects for classroom repair in 2008, the list included $66,000 for GTC.

He said CIP coordinator Vicky Villagomez prepared a reprogramming request totaling $1.2 million for the repair of the classrooms for certain schools on Saipan, which included GTC.

“I submitted this to Office of Insular Affairs early last year. The $1.2 million reprogramming request was eventually approved by OIA. In fact, the GTC allocation is still available for disbursement,” Fitial said in his e-mail.

Pres secretary Charles Reyes Jr. said the governor will meet with the GTC principal as soon as he returns from Washington D.C.

“The governor looks forward to the meeting and will ask PSS to submit the plan for the repair of GTC classrooms. The governor added that if the $66,000 approved funding from 702 funds is inadequate, he will seek additional 702 funding to provide for the shortfall,” Reyes said.

The press secretary said the governor believes that the soccer sports facility was more in keeping with the requirements of the community development block grant while the classroom repairs better fit the funding requirements for federal CIP grants.

The governor emphasized the importance of a world-class soccer facility that would help the CNMI economy by providing destination enhancement, attracting tourists and sports enthusiasts, and developing a sports tourism industry for the CNMI.

The Northern Marianas Housing Corp. had approved $800,000 for the repair and renovation of the three most dilapidated facilities in GTC.

However, the governor had rescinded the housing agency’s decision and selected the establishment of a soccer field in Koblerville over the school project.

Last Friday, GTC school officials disclosed that the “cancellation” of the project might force the school to shut down because the project’s action plan was the only reason why the Bureau of Environmental Health allowed the temporary use of the classrooms.

GTC is home to 228 students from kindergarten to sixth grade. Approximately 120 students in the upper grades will be displaced if three buildings are closed.

Buildings B, G, F have 14 classrooms. These structures are more than 30 years and have never been fully repaired since the establishment of the school.