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CDA nixes proration of QC annual fee
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Posted on May 14 2012
By Clarissa V. David
Reporter
Reporter
Despite recommendation from the staff, the Commonwealth Development Authority board denied Friday the request made by two beneficiaries of the qualifying certificate program to prorate its annual fee of $2,000.
Board chair Pedro Itibus instructed Carline Sablan, economic development analyst who handles the QC program, to write a letter to the two beneficiaries about the board’s decision.
One beneficiary has a QC expiring in September 2012, and it is requesting that the annual fee be prorated so they only pay for the 9 months that the QC is in effect. The other beneficiary has its QC signed in Dec. 28, 2010.
Sablan explained that she is in support of the proration request since this kind of policy will be “more customer-friendly and reasonable.”
The board argued, however, that the QC policy requires the fee to be paid on an annual basis.
Board member Marcie Tomokane said the $2,000 fee covers all administrative work that Sablan performs for the program “and I don’t see why we have to prorate it.”
Comparing the QC to a driver’s license, Tomokane explained that renewing an expired driver’s license still gives the license holder his or her birthdate as the new expiration date of the license.
“We shouldn’t be making a decision because it’s customer-friendly. We have to make a decision based on SOP,” said Tomokane, adding that the beneficiaries knew what they’re getting into upon joining the QC program, and that includes the payment of the annual fee.
For board member Diego Songao, it’s also the same case as a car registration, which is also paid on an annual basis regardless if the car breaks down anytime during the year.
Songao said he would understand if the beneficiary whose QC was signed on Dec. 28, 2010, would be prorated, which Sablan and the other board members contested, saying that if the proration policy is adopted, it should be applied for all.
According to Sablan, there are currently seven beneficiaries under the QC program.
