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Senate to Fitial: Let Saipan, Rota, Tinian mayors manage CIPs
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Posted on Jul 31 2011
The Senate is asking Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to decentralize the administration of all capital improvement projects and delegate the responsibility to each of the mayors of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Senators adopted on Thursday a resolution that says many CIPs take several years to complete final phases, and tend to be partially complete for failing to meet grant expiration date.
The resolution, introduced by Sen. Juan Ayuyu (Ind-Rota), says Rota, Tinian, and Saipan have dilapidated buildings and project sites as a result of unfinished project phases.
“Some projects may be deliberately delayed to authorize reprogramming of such funds as deemed necessary by officials other than the respective island officials,” Senate Resolution 17-61 says.
CIP monies granted to each senatorial district used to be managed and administered by the Department of Public Works.
By Oct. 1, 2009, this responsibility was transferred to the CIP Office.
The senators, in adopting the resolution, said each respective mayor most certainly recognizes and identifies which projects are deemed highly necessary for the islands’ economic development and to move each CIP forward in a timely and suitable manner.
The administration has yet to comment on the Senate resolution.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan earlier told lawmakers that the CNMI has yet to spend over $48.6 million of almost $79.66 million in CIP grant since 2006.
The CIP Office, one of three agencies tasked to administer CIP funds, told the Senate that $34 million of some $37.5 million in grant awards will be spent in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to include the Puerto Rico Dump closure and construction of the Rota and Tinian landfills. It said 31 of 33 projects that the CIP Office administers are now under contract.
