Precinct 4 transitions to maintenance as projects get completed

Staff members of Precinct 4 Rep. Joel Camacho (R-Saipan) are water-blasting the bridge by Kensington Hotel in San Roque. The murals are also part of the precinct’s beautification program, to instill in the community a sense of pride and to encourage more tourists to visit the northern part of Saipan. (Contributed Photo)

With the road safety and visibility enhancement project completed, including the rehabilitation of several recreational facilities, the community, as well as tourists, would be able to even better enjoy the north of Saipan so much more.

“One of our biggest completions was the road safety projects,” Precinct 4 Rep. Joel Castro Camacho (R-Saipan) said.

In coordination with the Department of Public Works and the Saipan Mayor’s Office, the Road Safety Visibility Enhancement Project was completed, paving the way for a safer road experience for both motorists and pedestrians.

This included putting reflectors on concrete polls, repainting islands, overall brightening up the area, collecting trash on road shoulders, and beautification.

“It gives our community a sense of pride. A lot of people have said that they have driven up north and they cannot believe how unbelievably clean it is, how bright it is,” Camacho said.

Aside from this, mural projects were started not just to promote tourist growth in the north, but to instill community pride.

“A lot of other regions in the world have used mural art to restore the integrity of communities. It does not only brighten up the areas, but it gives us a sense of pride,” Camacho added.

There are three mural strips: in Tanapag, on the Achugao Bridge, and near Kensington Hotel.

“The Achugao Bridge has inspiring words for our community. If you’re having a bad day, you just look at the wall and remember that there are better times. For Kensington, we wanted to depict cultural images, botanical, birds of paradise, underwater life, and tourist attractions like the Bird Island.”

Partnership became key, especially with the more than 30% cut on Camacho’s office allocation last year due to austerity. With the help of the community, Paupau Beach was also cleaned, and the Tanapag Beach Pavilion renovated and beautified, with the help of Ursula’s Garden.

Now that a lot of the community projects in the north are nearing completion, and are in the maintenance phase, Camacho shifts focus on ways to implement programs that are beneficial to the youth.

“I am working with coach Joe Diaz of the Rollers [Basketball] Association to start a basketball exhibition match, and, hopefully in the coming months, to do traditional fishing teaching lessons.”

Camacho also said that there are still work to be done.

“We have a lot of abandoned buildings in Precinct 4. We don’t want to have dilapidated eyesores around the precinct. Little by little, there’s still a lot of work to do. We collaborate and we want to make this a real thing moving forward.”