FLASHBACK – June 5, 2012

Govt recognizes OFWs contributions [/B]

With Filipinos accounting for the biggest number of foreign workers in several business sectors in the Northern Marianas, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio on Friday recognized the ethnic group’s significant contributions to the growth of the local economy. Tenorio displayed the Commonwealth government’s high regard of the Filipinos’ assistance in fostering economic and social development on the island by declaring June 5-12, 2000 as the CNMI-Philippines Friendship Week. The governor signed the proclamation Friday morning in light of the celebration of the Philippines’ 102nd Independence Day.

Effective last Friday, traveling Northern Marianas College staff and officials will adhere to the general CNMI Travel Policy which provides for per diem travel allowance granted in cash dependent on occupancy and travel rates at the country or area of destination. The NMC Board of Regents has acted on the initiative in light of certain “bad experiences” NMC staff and officials have encountered in several of their off-island business trips under its own travel policy. The old policy allowed the college administration discretion on where to house NMC official delegates to particular off-island functions. According to NMC Director for Finance and Administration Services Alvaro Santos, employees often had problems with purchase orders and college checks, which apparently are not being honored by most mainland hotels and other business establishments.

Customs seize 238 lbs. of illegal medicine[/B]

The Division of Customs seized a total of 238 lbs. of illegal medicine from people entering the CNMI last month, according to Customs Airport Branch Supervisor Lieutenant Bill Lifoifoi. The volume represents a 6.25 percent increase from the 224 lbs. of non-English labeled pharmaceuticals confiscated in the previous month of April. Under Pubic Law 11-40, non-English labeled drugs are prohibited from entering the Commonwealth. Like previous months, about 90 percent of the confiscated items were from Chinese nationals. The other 10 percent are evenly split between Filipino and Korean nationals. Lifoifoi said the higher figure in illegal medicine coming into the CNMI last month could be attributed to more nonresident workers coming to the Northern Marianas.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio assured Philippine Consulate General officials that moves are underway to resolve problems of more than 350 stateless children in the Northern Marianas. Tenorio told Consulate officials that the Legislature is carefully reviewing the problem as legislation seeks to help these children is underway. Consul General Julia Heidemann raised the issue during a recent meeting with Tenorio in preparations for the celebration of the 103rd Philippine Independence. Heidemann told the governor that problems on stateless children still reach the Consulate and inquiries of recent developments continue.

New law may mean less funds for DPS[/B]

The new law banning police officers from confiscating the driver’s license of traffic violators could spell lost revenues for the Department of Public Safety, a DPS official said yesterday. Lt. Pete C. Muña yesterday aired his personal sentiment over Public Law 13-6, explaining that visiting or tourist drivers cited for traffic violations may not have enough motivation to pay their traffic tickets before leaving the CNMI since their driver’s licenses will not be seized from them. “This could mean lost revenues. Visitors from Guam, FSM [and other places] who are cited here could easily leave without paying for the ticket since their licenses will be returned to them [right away],” said Muña.

The Commonwealth Ports Authority will submit this week the final version of its CNMI airport security project to the Federal Aviation Administration. Executive Director Carlos H. Salas left Monday for Honolulu to attend a meeting with Airport District Office Manager Ronnie V. Simpson. The two would be discussing proposed airport security projects that will be submitted to the FAA Regional Office in Honolulu. Salas said amendments on the proposed projects for CNMI airports, including priority programs, will be tackled during the discussion with Simpson.