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Senate panel poised to OK Palacios’ nomination
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Posted on Feb 23 2012
By Haidee V. Eugenio
Reporter
Reporter
The Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Governmental Investigations is poised to recommend full Senate confirmation of Arnold Palacios’ appointment as Department of Lands and Natural Resources secretary, after Palacios received overwhelming support during a public hearing on his nomination yesterday.
Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian), chairman of the Senate EAGI Committee, said he trusts that Palacios will treat all the islands equally when it comes to providing DLNR services and programs.
He said Palacios continues to show his willingness to serve the public, even after retiring as DLNR Division of Fish and Wildlife director and as House speaker.
If the EAGI Committee is able to come up with its report and recommendation today, then the full Senate may be able to act on Palacios’ nomination during today’s session, Cruz said.
Palacios, in a separate interview, expressed appreciation to those who showed up during a public hearing on his nomination.
“I’m comfortable the hearing went well. It’s now in their hands,” he told reporters.
Palacios said DLNR is reassessing its priorities, specifically its regulatory functions as well as relevance at a time when resources are limited.
“A lot of the mandates we passed were passed when resources were available. We need to prioritize our functions and activities to make it, especially the regulatory part. Those are issues we cannot ignore,” he said.
Dr. John Joyner, the governor’s senior policy adviser, presented Palacios to the Senate EAGI Committee.
Among those who testified were former representative Benigno M. Sablan, Ignacio Cabrera, Ignacio Demapan, Jesus M. Castro, Felipe Atalig, Frank Aldan, Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar, and Richard Farrell, resident director of DLNR-Tinian.
Cruz said the committee also received letters of support for Palacios from Commonwealth Ports Authority’s Edward M. Deleon Guerrero and DLNR special assistant to the secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo.
