Fitial expands austerity’s coverage

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial removed federally funded agencies and other key offices from the list of those exempted from the 32-hour workweek-a policy that is drawing concern from agencies whose certain personnel used to be exempt from the austerity measures because of the nature of their function.

The governor, in an Oct. 13 memo to Executive Branch department and activity heads, exempted from the austerity measure certain personnel only from three agencies: Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, and Emergency Management Office.

Those specifically exempt are DPS police officers, dispatchers, and firefighters; DOC corrections officers; and EMO communications operators.

He said he’s exempting only these critical services “to ensure the objectives of the austerity measures are met to the fullest extent possible.”

Fitial, who is expected to return early today from Beijing, China, also said in his memo that he’s the only one who can amend or rescind the policy.

The governor’s Oct. 13 memo superseded his Oct. 6 memo that included seven federally funded agencies on the exemption list.

“This policy supersedes previous directives and shall remain in effect for the duration of the austerity period, unless otherwise amended or rescinded by me,” he said in the Oct. 13 memo, a copy of which, along with the Oct. 6 memo, was obtained only yesterday.

Because government doctors and nurses now fall under the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., they are no longer under the Executive Branch and are not covered by the governor’s list of those exempted from austerity measures.

Shortened list

In his Oct. 6 memo to payroll supervisor Eloida Macaranas and Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson, the governor listed seven federally funded agencies that are exempted from austerity measures: Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resources Management, CNMI Women, Infant and Children Program, Criminal Justice Planning Agency, Office of Homeland Security, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Developmental Disabilities Council.

“This list will remain active unless otherwise amended,” he said.

That amendment came seven days later with another memo on Oct. 13 that shortened the list of exemptions.

‘We can’t work like this’

Jesus Muña, director of the Division of Customs Service, said yesterday that Customs personnel are now no longer exempt from austerity measures, even as they are already short-staffed to begin with.

“We can’t operate with 32 hours. We are already working with five personnel per shift when we’re supposed to have seven per shift at the airport. We have three shifts to maintain 24 hours operation,” Muna told Saipan Tribune when asked for comment.

Of the five personnel per shift at the airport, one is the supervisor, one is a cashier at the booth, one is at the ramp to meet the plane, and two are assigned to passenger clearance every time a plane lands.

Muña said he also has to move personnel from the seaport to the airport on Saturdays so that airport personnel can also have a day off.

During times when there are no arriving passenger planes, customs personnel also have to be assigned to cargo plane and then to the commuter flight from Guam.

“We’re really short of personnel and now we have to cut work hours,” he added.

Customs, along with other agencies with certain key functions, used to be exempt from austerity measures. Since Thursday, however, Customs personnel are now also subject to 32 hours per workweek.

Muña said he would like to talk to the governor about Customs request to exempt its airport and seaport personnel.

Other federally funded agencies could not be reached for comment yesterday, being an austerity Friday and their offices were closed.

The Department of Public Lands also used to be exempt. DPL secretary Oscar M. Babauta said yesterday that the department will be fine.

The four-day workweek is Monday to Thursday, 7:30am to 4:30pm. Executive Branch offices are closed every Friday now.

The CNMI government has been seeing almost an annual decrease in revenue since fiscal year 1998 because of a series of mainly external factors. The fiscal year 2012 budget is $102 million, almost back to the budget level of 1990. The CNMI has not been able to replace the garment industry with a new industry and has relied only on tourism to sustain its economy.