Hundreds of Tinian homestead lots to be distributed this week

The Department of Public Lands will be conducting a lottery drawing of homestead lots on Tinian on Thursday, the same day when it will also issue congratulatory letters to hundreds of qualified homestead applicants on the island.

The issuance of congratulatory letters was originally set for last Friday, April 24, but DPL had to postpone it because of legal matters that need to be resolved first.

Ray M. Cing, director of DPL Tinian, said as of 4pm Friday, 349 homestead applicants had already been reviewed and approved for lots.

“We are continuing to review. We may have the final list by Tuesday. We go beyond our work hours to complete the review of the applications,” Cing told Saipan Tribune in a phone interview.

The last time DPL distributed a large number of homestead lots on Tinian—over 100 of them—was in 2001, Cing added.

Each homestead lot has a size of anywhere between 800 sq.m. to 1,000 sq.m.

Cing said they received over 500 applications for these lots.

“In the lottery drawing, qualified applicants will be able to know where their lot will be located. We have five different areas on Tinian for these homestead lots,” he said.

The DPL director also reminded those who will qualify for homestead lots to prepare $50 for the permitting fee.

“There is no politicking going on here. We have worked for a year on this planning. It’s a constitutional mandate,” said Cing.

The lottery drawing is scheduled for Thursday, April 30th, at 9:30am at the Tinian Youth Center.

DPL reminds homestead applicants to bring a valid proof of identification. Those who are unable to make it to the event may be allowed to participate by appointing a duly authorized representative.

The representative is required to bring a valid proof of identification of himself/herself and that of the non-appearing applicant. “A representative must also present a valid proof of express delegation of authority to participate in the drawing on behalf of the non-appearing applicant,” DPL said in a public announcement.

Earlier, DPL secretary John S. Del Rosario called on Tinian and Rota homestead applicants to patiently wait for the actual distribution of lots as DPL hurdles regulatory agencies’ requirements, as well as duplicate applications, among other things.