Flashback — Nov. 1999-Nov. 2001

Road paving on Capital Hill questioned[/B]

Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes has expressed concern on the paving being undertaken by the Department of Public Works along the major road in Capitol Hills, saying such project should be done on several secondary roads on the island. He said he had received numerous calls from his constituents, questioning the asphalt paved last week on top of the cemented road that is largely in good condition. While acknowledging the authority of the executive branch to embark on such projects, Reyes said the administration should have considered first the bad state of most secondary roads.

Seventy-five-year old Miguel Magofna has spent most of his life fishing in Tanapag, a village located in the northwestern coast of Saipan. Life was doing just fine until one day he stepped on oil coming out of a leaking electrical capacitor buried along the beach while fishing. Four days after the incident, Magofna’s feet became so itchy, he started scratching them so hard they bled. He realized something was wrong when the skin disorder started spreading all over his body—from head to toe. “Sometimes I cannot walk because my toes and joints are so painful,” he said. In search for cure, he tried using different kinds of ointment. But it only gave him temporary relief. When a U.S. Navy doctor examined his skin problem, he was told there is no cure for his disease.
[B] Nov. 2, 2000

Proposed bill passes medical costs to guest workers
[/B] Employees in the private sector would have to shoulder 50 percent of the cost of their medical treatment if they get sick for 60 days or more should a proposed legislation amending the Nonresident Workers Act becomes a law. According to David A. Wiseman, director of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, the proposal will implement substantial changes in the CNMI’s policies with respect to employer’s responsibilities in paying medical expenses. House Bill 12-275 has been approved in the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate. Medical expenses of the employers will not cover psychiatric treatment unless it is included in the medical coverage package.

A comprehensive measure overhauling the government scholarship program is being crafted by the Senate education committee in an effort to remedy perennial problem of funding shortfall, according to its chairman. Sen. Richardo S. Atalig said his committee expects to endorse the proposal for passage before the end of November following months of review and research. The proposal will consolidate all the different bills on scholarship pending in the upper house, including four sponsored by Senate President Paul A. Manglona, he said.
[B] Nov. 2, 2001

Creation of CNMI National Guard sought[/B]

Recognizing the need for the establishment of a National Guard in the Commonwealth, Rep. Robert A. Underwood of Guam has filed a bill at the US Congress that would to authorize the establishment of such a unit in the CNMI. As introduced in the US House of Representatives, House Resolution 3128 aims to authorize the establishment of a CNMI National Guard-an elite paramilitary unit that may be called by the governor to perform functions of a military nature such as providing security and extending services during emergency situations. The bill has already been referred to the House Armed Services Committee. The measure basically amends Section 101(1) of title 32, United States Code, by inserting the phrase “the Northern Mariana Islands,” after “Guam.”

Hundreds of CNMI residents yesterday trooped to the cemetery to pay respect to their loved ones in observance of the All Saints Day. Children and adults carrying plastic and fresh flowers trooped to the cemetery to pray for the dear departed. Cemetery attendants were at hand to help exiting and arriving visitors. Not even the cemetery was spared by the scorching heat of the November 3 elections, though. Vehicles adorned by various election stickers and billboards were used to attract attention in what appears to be a silent election campaign. In an ocular inspection conducted yesterday, trucks bearing stickers of political parties such as Covenant, Republican, Reform and Democratic were strategically parked near the cemetery.