Babauta vows to finish 4-year term as health corporation CEO

Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Juan N. Babauta has quashed rumors that he is planning to run for delegate in November next year, saying he is committed to finishing his four-year term at the helm of the newly formed organization.

In fact, Babauta, a former governor and resident representative to Washington, D.C., said he is setting aside his political plans due to his commitments with the health corporation.

Babauta recently stepped down as CNMI Republican Party president to focus on the healthcare corporation.

Corporation board chair Joaquin Torres told Saipan Tribune that a formal contract has yet to be executed for the new CEO because Babauta has more pressing matters to attend to at the public hospital. This means his salary has also yet to be set by the board.

Babauta confirmed this. “Honestly, I don’t have a contract yet. That’s the truth. I am not complaining. We’re focused on the hospital right now and I am glad that I have a chairman and the board that is engaged seriously in this task,” he said.

According to Babauta, he accepted the position so he could continue serving the people of the Commonwealth.

Saipan Tribune learned that former Public Health secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez was paid $60,000 per annum. Torres said that no final amount has been set for Babauta.

Babauta was coy when asked about his possible candidacy for the U.S. delegate position next year, refusing to directly answer the question and merely giving this reply: “When the chairman and I feel that we’ve met the accomplishments and the missions that we set out here—to improve the delivery of healthcare services to patients—maybe that’s the time you can come back and ask me the same question.”

Meantime, Saipan Tribune learned that as a result of the corporation takeover on Oct. 1, some positions have been eliminated and dissolved, including that of the DPH secretary, which was previously occupied by Villagomez.

Other positions that were eliminated are the deputy secretary for public health administration that was previously occupied by John Tagabuel in an acting capacity and public health acting deputy secretary for hospital administration, previously occupied by Esther Muna, also in an acting capacity.

Both Tagabuel and Muña went back to their original posts. Tagabuel is the Bureau of Environmental Health director, while Muña is the hospital’s finance department head. Villagomez, meantime, has yet to report to the Community Guidance Center where he previously worked before becoming the DPH secretary.

Torres refused to answer questions about the former secretary.

The corporation board is looking at a $25-million budget this fiscal year.