FLASHBACK – Mar. 24, 2012

Mar. 24, 1999

Instructional reforms come under review

The issue over eliminating time allotment for each subject versus imposing a required period each day was debated upon yesterday by school principals and teachers of the Public School System during the committee meeting for curriculum and assessment. Board of Education member Thomas Pangelinan presented to the participants a proposal for the primary grade that allots 170 minutes daily for language arts, 60 minutes for Math and 50 minutes for music, arts and physical education. The proposal was met with opposition where school officials emphasized the use of standards instead of focusing on the time requirement for each subject.

Trade-zone bill gets rush action

A legislation establishing the first ever free trade zone in the Northern Marianas heads to a joint House committee for review, including comments and inputs from the business sector, before lawmakers consider the proposal on the floorHouse Speaker Diego T. Benavente, who sponsors the administration-backed measure, tossed it yesterday to the committees on Commerce and Tourism as well as Ways and Means for further deliberation. “Because not only that is there going to be a creation of a commission under the free trade zone bill, but there’s also an accompanying legislation that is going to be required to accommodate the free trade zone intentions, such as exemptions from certain taxes,” he said in an interview.

Mar. 24, 2000

SGMA supports NMC radio station

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association this week presented a check for $1,000 to help KRNM 88.1 FM, the public radio station located on the campus of Northern Marianas College, to bring programming to the community. Karl Pogue, general manager of KRNM stated that, “Local donations such as this are crucial to our station, as we receive no federal funding for our operations. The donation from SGMA will be used to underwrite four programs for a full year, including the locally-produced ’China Tonight’ show and the syndicated programs, ’CyberMedia,’ ’Car Talk,’ and ’EchoesEchoes.’”

OFWs urged to file ITRs early

Exempted or not, Filipino workers in the Northern Marianas must file their income tax returns to the Philippine Consulate before the deadline on April 15 to avoid penalty. The Consulate will intensify its campaign to encourage Filipino workers here to submit their ITRs even those who are exempt from paying income taxes to the Philippine government. Income tax forms are now available at the Consular Office. However, overseas Filipino workers on Tinian and on Rota will be allowed extension in the filing of their income taxes by as late as the first two weeks of May, or when the Consulate conducts consular mission on the islands.

Mar. 24, 2003

Joint session sought on Kan Pacific lease

The House is keen on meeting with the Senate in a joint session this week to decide on Kan Pacific Saipan Ltd.’s request for a 15-year lease extension, amid the nearing expiration of the firm’s 25-year lease contract this April. Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Arnold I. Palacios said Friday that House members are ready to decide on the lease extension request. The joint session was tentatively proposed for today, March 25, but the House was still awaiting the Senate’s nod as of Friday last week.

’NMI entitled to $20K in Cardizem settlement’

House U.S. and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. William S. Torres is planning to round up insurance firms, healthcare providers and other local agencies to begin assessing reimbursements entitled to CNMI consumers who purchased the high blood pressure drug Cardizem CD between July 1, 1998 and Jan. 29, 2003. Torres is initiating the meeting after learning that the CNMI is entitled to some $20,000 out of the $7-million settlement in the case against pharmaceutical companies Aventis and Andrx–charged with conspiring to keep the generic version of Cardizem CD off the market for one year. Assistant attorney general Brian R. Caldwell informed the Saipan congressman that, although it is too late for the CNMI to join as a named plaintiff to the generic drug case settlement, the Northern Marianas is entitled to a $20,000 exclusive award out of the $7-million settlement.