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Governor appoints 4, extends CUC emergency
Gov. Eloy S. Inos appointed and re-appointed yesterday four individuals to serve on the Commonwealth Zoning Board, Commonwealth Development Authority, and Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
The appointments were made on the same day the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations chaired by Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) held a public hearing on the governor’s previous appointee to the CUC board, Christopher Concepcion.
This also comes a few days after the governor extended anew the emergency declaration for CUC.
Inos cited once again a lack of a functioning CUC board, technical worker crisis, and some $20 million that the utilities agency has yet to collect from the Public School System, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., and residential customers.
The amount owed CUC increased from $18 million about a month ago, based on the governor’s emergency declaration extensions.
Zoning, CDA, CUC
Inos reappointed Diego Blanco to serve as a member of the Commonwealth Zoning Board, subject to the confirmation of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
If confirmed, Blanco will serve another two-year term commencing on the date of his confirmation.
The governor also reappointed Diego M. Songao to serve on the CDA board representing Rota. His appointment requires the Senate’s advice and consent.
If confirmed, Songao will serve another four-year term that will expire on May 11, 2018.
Songao served as CDA board chairman. Under the law, the CDA board chair automatically becomes a member of the CUC board.
Inos also appointed Matthew Owen Deleon Guerrero to serve also on the CDA board representing Saipan. Just like Songao’s, Deleon Guerrero’s appointment requires the Senate’s advice and consent.
Deleon Guerrero will also serve a four-year term if confirmed.
The governor also appointed Joseph T. Torres to serve on the CUC board representing Saipan. The initial appointment requires the Senate’s advice and consent. If confirmed, Torres will serve a four-year term, beginning on his confirmation date.
The Inos administration is reviving the critical CUC board of directors, nine years since the last one was abolished. Last month, acting governor Jude U. Hofschneider administered the oath of office to confirmed CUC board appointees David J. Sablan Jr. and Adelina Roberto.
