FEMA funds to go through Governor’s office

The money that will be used to repair the facilities inside the Oleai Sports Complex will be coursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Governor’s Office, according to FEMA Media Relations manager Kurt H. Pickering.

The steel fence and the pitcher’s bullpen at the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan softball field are among the facilities that need repairs inside the Oleai Sports Complex. (Jon Perez)

FEMA has been in constant communication with officials of the Northern Marianas Sports Association, particularly NMSA executive director Tony Rogolifoi.

Pickering said that NMSA, being a private sports group, is not eligible to receive FEMA’s public assistance funding but money for the repairs was made possible since the Oleai Sports Complex is still owned by the government.

“NMSA is not an eligible applicant under the FEMA PA program. However, the Oleai Sports Complex is owned by the Governor’s Office and as such, may be eligible for Public Assistance funding,” said Pickering in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

A FEMA is now in the process of making a project worksheet after a FEMA project specialist inspected the damages at the Oleai Sports Complex last Wednesday.

The FEMA project specialist made a complete field inspection in order to determine the extent of the damages and how much funding may be given through the public assistance program.

Rains had delayed and prolonged the full inspection done by the project specialist.

Rogolifoi said, in an interview last Friday, that the FEMA inspector also saw the leaks at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium since it rained for a while last Wednesday.

The Ada Gym—including the offices and conference room—and the Francisco M. “Tan Ko” Palacios and the Miguel “Tan Ge” Pangelinan ballfields were among those that were heavily damaged by several typhoons that hit Saipan.

“We’ve been busy cleaning, drying, and getting the water out of the Ada Gym court. As of now, indoor events are put on hold. We already cleared some of the debris outside but a lot of repairs are needed at the baseball and softball fields,” said Rogolifoi.

The entire floor at the Ada Gym needs to be replaced after the water seeped under it while repairs are also needed on the ceiling and windows of the offices and the conference room.

Lights at the “Tan Ko” baseball field have to be realigned and bulbs replaced, while a new batting cage must be constructed.

Over at the “Tan Ge” softball field, where the Majors division of the Saipan Little League plays, the roof of the bullpen must be replaced while the steel fence were uprooted. Several light poles also fell inside the softball field.

The Oleai track and field facility, which is due for resurfacing and other repairs, was also not spared after a telephone pole was uprooted and the hammer throw encasing was also damaged.