FLASHBACK – Jun. 18, 2012

USDA eases ban on entry of RP mangoes[/B]

The US Department of Agriculture has announced that it will soon allow the importation of mangoes from the Philippines – but only those that come from the island of Guimaras. Mitchell Nelson, director of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said they decided to amend their regulations on the importation of Philippine mangoes to clear the way for the entry of Guimaras-grown mangoes into the US market as the island has been found to be free of the mango seed weevil, a pest that the United States does not have. He clarified, though, that since there is no basis yet to believe that Guimaras Island is free of fruit flies, mangoes coming from that island will have to be treated with vapor heat before being imported. The entire process has to be done under the supervision of an APHIS inspector.

The Superior Court has imposed a five-year ban on the reentry of a Filipino worker into the Northern Marianas, for alleged violation of the Nonresident Workers Act. The court’s ruling upheld the decision of the Department of Labor and Immigration, banning the reentry of Perfecto C. Ramos into the CNMI. Ramos, a nonresident worker, reportedly maintained shares of stock with the locally-based Magusa, Inc. The Nonresident Workers Act prohibits nonresident workers from engaging into business activities and employment other than what is stipulated in their entry permit.

Salas is now CRM chief[/B]

More than a year after occupying the post in an acting capacity, Joaquin D. Salas yesterday took over as the official Administrator of the Coastal Resources Management Office. This comes soon after Gov. Juan N. Babauta officially appointed Salas to the post effective immediately. Salas said his permanent appointment to the post only boosts his drive to do more good for the Commonwealth’s coastal environment.

Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Tom Pangelinan has requested the Division of Environmental Quality to share with his office the results of monitoring activities on Managaha Island’s beaches. Pangelinan cited as reason Managaha Island’s importance on the image of the Northern Marianas as a safe and clean recreation tour destination. “Managaha is a sanctuary also. That’s our jurisdiction,” Pangelinan said in an interview. “We’re willing to work hand in hand with any other agencies that come across our pathway.”

Diego: Admin comfortable with 702 funding for next year[/B]

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said the administration is comfortable with the $11-million Covenant Section 702 funding being proposed for the CNMI for Fiscal Year 2004, despite an expressed disappointment by the Resident Representative that the CNMI could have obtained much more. Benavente said the administration is glad of the continued federal assistance, even if it is set at the FY03 level, as this comes amid reported moves by certain U.S. Congress members to eliminate the Covenant Section 702 funding altogether. “When we started planning last year to put together the talks for the Covenant 702, we were assured by [Interior Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs] Mr. David B. Cohen and the [Bush] administration that the same level of $11 million would be provided. And that’s the reason why we did not find it necessary to rush into seeking for the FY04 since it’s already provided in the language,” said the lieutenant governor.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation’s Board of Directors canceled its special board meeting scheduled yesterday due to the lack of quorum. Two of the remaining five members of the supposed eight-member CUC board failed to show up in yesterday’s board meeting reportedly due to “emergencies.” Joseph Torres reportedly had to attend to a sick father at the Commonwealth Health Center, and Velma Ann Palacios was said to have a prior medical appointment. Both Palacios and Torres have informed the board of their unavailability in advance. The CUC’s policy-making body, however, decided to move ahead with the announcement for yesterday’s meeting.