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CPA lauds recall of new airport and seaport rates
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Posted on Jul 21 2011
Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero lauded yesterday the decision of Rep. Ray Yumul to recall his bill proposing to increase airport and seaport rates.
Yumul’s House Bill 17-199 was proposing to impose up to $25 fees on passengers landing at CNMI airports and seaports in a bid to generate more than $3 million that the central government could use to restore the timely payroll and 80 work hours of government employees.
“I am very glad that Rep. Yumul rescinded this bill and considered all the comments of the public and the ports authority. What he proposed was similar to a previous bill we countered [in the past Legislature]. Our main concern is it violates federal regulations pertaining to the passenger facility charges [we collect],” he said.
Deleon Guerrero said that CPA was finalizing its written response to the measure when they were told that Yumul had recalled the bill.
Deleon Guerrero reaffirmed the board’s decision not to increase any CPA fees in these times of financial distress. “We remain committed in our plan not to impose new or increased rates in our fees,” he told Saipan Tribune yesterday.
CPA last increased its seaport rates and charges in February 2009; airport fees were last adjusted in 2008.
Despite the agency’s financial bind, the CPA board opted to implement cost-cutting measures such as conserving energy costs and freezing hiring and travels just to maintain the 80-hour works of its 198 employees. The agency is also aggressively collecting payments and fees to generate needed funds.
Yumul’s withdrawal of the bill came after acting governor Eloy Inos made his position on the bill known on Monday. Inos told Saipan Tribune that CPA should be heavily involved in any talks relating to proposed increases of CPA rates.
Meantime, Deleon Guerrero made a site visit to Tinian yesterday to check the ongoing projects of both its airport and seaport.
He said that CPA fully supports the emergency repair of the Tinian harbor. Four of the harbor’s bollards are in danger of collapsing anytime soon. Deleon Guerrero said a meeting with the local delegation was also held yesterday on Tinian.
