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Rota east harbor project to be funded by a USDA grant
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Posted on Aug 25 2011
Rota Legislative Delegation chair Sen. Juan Ayuyu (Ind-Rota) disclosed yesterday that in the absence of a go-signal from the Office of Insular Affairs to use 702 funds for the construction of the island’s east harbor, its members and the municipality have decided to explore other funding sources for the project.
The delegation appropriated $25 million last year from the government’s 702 monies for the Rota harbor improvement. The decision was reached in order to address the long history of an unsafe harbor entrance and berthing area on Rota that has hampered shipping and economic development.
Ayuyu revealed that after consulting the Executive Branch, it was agreed upon to take a new approach for the project. He said the U.S. Department of Agriculture will now fund the project.
However, the grant allows only non-profit organizations to handle the project. The Rota municipality and the delegation are in the process of creating a non-profit group that will apply for the grant. As of yesterday, documents for the registration of the non-profit organization were being finalized.
“This is totally a different approach from the original. We will be receiving the $25 million grant [from USDA] and without any involvement of the government [in repayment],” the senator said.
Ayuyu declined to name the non-profit group being formed but reiterated that it will be the expenditure authority of the grant and will have full responsibility for the project.
“We didn’t receive the authorization from OIA to use the 702 monies. Because of the urgency of this project, we made the decision to take another approach and we’re very optimistic that it will work,” he said.
Rota’s current harbor is on the west side of the island.
