Flashback Dec. 14, 1999 – 2002

Dec. 14, 1999

Retirement bill spares present govt employees

Present government employees will not be affected by the proposed elimination of the 30 percent retirement bonus, but only those who will be hired after the scheduled abolition by tomorrow, lawmakers assured yesterday. Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes said the Legislature has put in place measures to guarantee that employees currently working for the government will not be denied from receiving such benefits even after the governor signs it into law. “Those that are now entitled to it under the original law will not be affected in any way with the passage of this act,” he said in an interview.

Volunteer group eyed to protect Managaha

The Division of Environmental Quality has proposed creation of a community-based volunteer group to help government authorities enforce regulations of the planned marine conservation area in Managaha and surrounding waters. DEQ Director Ignacio V. Cabrera said this assistance from grassroots level will lead to the success of the project for the protection of the island’s fish and wildlife as well as other marine resources. “If this important step of the process is not done with the participation and support of the community, it is not likely to succeed,” he said in his testimony presented to the House Natural Resources Committee.

Dec. 14, 2001

Agencies rush to address dust emission

The Army Corps of Engineers admitted yesterday that, although the average dust emission by the indirect thermal desorption machine used in treating some 20,000 tons of PCB-laced soil is below harmful, it far-exceeded the limit occasionally. This, as both the Division of Environmental Quality and the US Environmental Protection Agency focus their attention on the emissions by the ITD unit. Frank Ono, the Corps’ representative on-island, said its contractor, Environmental Chemical Corp., is addressing the dust problem after a meeting with Tanapag residents Wednesday.

DOF failed to reimburse over $18M in US grants

The Department of Finance has failed to reimburse at least $18 million from various federal grantees since 2000, an amount, if collected, would help alleviate the current economic condition of the Commonwealth. Rep. William S. Torres said he will meet with finance officials to discuss the alleged failure of the department to draw down $10 million in federal money in 2001 and another $8 million in 2000. Torres hinted, however, that the amount could be more than $18 million considering that the finance department has not been conducting a regular reimbursement process.

Dec. 14, 2002

Utilities damage partially set at $117K

A preliminary assessment of damage to utility systems on Saipan and Tinian has been partially estimated at $117,000, with the figure expected to go higher in the coming days with the assessment’s completion and the inclusion of the damage to utilities on Rota. This was learned in a statement released by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., which disclosed that over the course of supertyphoon Pongsona through Tuesday, December 10, the Power Division responded to 285 customer calls on typhoon damage. CUC said the damage to the Saipan power system included several downed utility poles, and some poles that were leaning that had to be replaced or repositioned. Power lines were down in locations throughout the island where fallen trees and branches interrupted service.

Babauta signs 3 bills into law

Gov. Juan N. Babauta interrupted a regular session of the House of Representatives yesterday to sign into law three bills that raise the taxes on cigarettes and alcoholic drinks, make the CNMI eligible to receive its share of the tobacco settlement funds, and enact language that paves the way for the settlement of $40 million in land compensation claims. Despite diverse lines of attack, Babauta said all three measures have one thing in common-the ultimate goal of jumpstarting the moribund economy with the injection of both local and federal dollars into government coffers and private pockets. “I am pleased to be signing [these] three important pieces of legislation that will contribute to the financial health of the Commonwealth, protect the physical health of us all, and put money into the pockets of people long owed compensation,” said Babauta, just before setting his signature on the three bills.