Rota airport named after former lt. governor Manglona

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos signed not only a $102-million budget bill yesterday, but three other measures as well that included a bill renaming the Rota International Airport the “Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport.”

Inos said that renaming the airport after former lieutenant governor Benjamin Taisacan Manglona is “befitting a person who has dedicated over 50 years of his life to public service in various capacities to improve the lives of our citizens and residents.”

“His dedication and perseverance throughout the years had led to developments and advancements in many areas of the Commonwealth. I am pleased that the Legislature found it befitting to rename the Rota International Airport in honor of a worthy leader,” Inos said.

Senate Bill 17-65, authored by Sen. Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota), Sen. Juan Ayuyu (Ind-Rota), and Senate President Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota), is now Public Law 17-53.

Inos signed the bill in the presence of the former lieutenant governor, his family, and other government officials and lawmakers.

Manglona not only served as a lieutenant governor, but also as a representative, senator and a mayor, among other things. He also served as first vice president of the First Constitutional Convention of 1976.

Inos also signed before Cabinet members and lawmakers House Bill 17-209, Senate Substitute 1 into P.L. 17-54 yesterday morning. This law changes the composition of the Marianas Visitors Authority’s board of directors.

The bill, introduced by House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan), allows one non-U.S. citizen to be appointed by the governor to serve on the MVA board.

The acting governor also signed House Local Bill 17-55, Substitute 1, into Rota Local Law 17-16.

This measure, introduced by Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota), appropriates $45,000 collected from poker license fees, to go toward patients, scholars, and other programs and activities on Rota.

Of the $45,000 appropriated, $8,100 will go to eight terminally ill and dialysis patients at $450 each for September, October and November 2011; $10,800 for nine terminally ill and dialysis patients at $300 each for September, October and November 2011; $2,250 for the Rota Municipal Scholarship Foundation; and $2,250 for compensation of affected employees under PL 7-31 and RLL 17-2.

The others will be appropriated as follows: $1,000 to the Rota Liaison Office for the payment of Microl Toyota car rental; $5,000 to SEAS Inc. for payment of the nursing services at Rota Health Center; $1,000 to National Car Rental for medical referral purposes; $1,000 to Pacific Biomedical Services; $588.56 to Modern Laboratory for laboratory services; and $1,500 to Diagnostic Laboratory for lab services.

The rest will be for: $2,500 to the Rota Municipal Council to repair the tractor mower; $1,500 to Paradise Hotel for room rental; $2,250 to the Mayor of Rota for fuel expenses of $500 each for the Department of Public Works, Department of Lands and Natural Resources and Department of Public Safety, and $750 for Rota Health Center; $500 to the Soil and Water Conservation District; and $4,761.44 for Bisita Luta activities.