Torres accuses Sablan of using NAP as ‘political tool’

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres blasted Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) after the delegate criticized him in a previous letter (see story on Page 2) and called out his administration for mishandling federal monies for nutritional programs.

In a four-page letter addressed to the delegate from the Governor’s Office dated July 18, 2018, Torres clarified that the CNMI would instead be left with $5.9 million available from the 2014 Agricultural Act funding in 2021, not the $10.1 million Sablan mentioned in his June 12, 2018 letter to the governor. The money goes to the Nutrition Assistance Program and the Enhanced Nutrition Assistance Program, or the NAP and ENAP respectively.

Torres said he obtained the numbers after meeting with top officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Western Regional Office, namely Regional Administrator Jesus Mendoza, Deputy Regional Administrator Terry Gunnell, Supplemental NAP director Dennis Stewart, Grants Management Division Chief Michael Wiley, and Special Nutrition Programs Director Marissa Cheung, late August 2017.

Torres in his letter noted that since Sablan included numbers that did not concur with NAP and FNS figures, they forwarded the delegate’s letter to the FNS to request their response to the information Sablan mentioned in his letter.

“While they did not respond directly to any information they may have provided to your [Sablan’s] office, they did provide us with the projection they have been working by, which is that there will be $5.9 million available from the 2014 Agricultural Act funding in 2021, contrary to the $10.1 million you have noted,” Torres wrote.

Torres noted that the $5.9-million figure would further be “reduced drastically” following the NAP-FNS meetings scheduled for August 2018.

“…The FNS will make determinations on an increase to eligibility benefits that will put us at or close to Guam eligibility levels,” wrote Torres, adding that several other “major plan components” still require substantial funding, such as the contracting of a financial institution for the Electronic Benefits Transfer; the opening of a fully operational office on Rota and Tinian and part-time satellite offices to accommodate the northern and eastern residents of Saipan, among many others.

‘Nothing but compliments’

Torres, in his letter to Sablan, noted that as of publication, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, which administers the NAP and ENAP program, has received nothing but compliments from the federal authorities.

“…There has been no communication from the FNS indicating any mismanagement of the ENAP. Moreover, all of the communications we have received have been complimentary, and have indicated that the NAP is carrying out the program under the close guidance of the FNS, and is on schedule with regard to all of the program’s transitional activities,” Torres wrote.
He noted that in a May 12, 2017 letter from USDA-FNS Western Regional Office Administrator Jesus Mendoza, it was emphasized that “any changes to the approved implementation plan must be pre-approved by FNS.”

“This collaboration [with FNS] resulted in a raising of the maximum benefits on Saipan to the level of Guam, and benefits for Tinian and Rota and the Northern Islands raised 6 percent and 22 percent higher, respectively, in April this year,” Torres wrote, adding that application services were extended to 6pm daily in order to accommodate those who struggle with transportation.

NAP benefits, which were increased in April 2018, yielded an increase in recipients for May 2018 compared to May 2017. May 2017 recipients were at 6,594 while May 2018 recipients were at 7,746, a 17- percent increase.

Torres noted that benefits increased 120 percent from $709,062 in May 2017 to over $1.55 million in May 2018.

“The average individual recipient receiving $108 in May of 2017 would have received $201 in May of this year,” wrote Torres.

Torres to Kilili: You used to praise NAP management—what happened?

Torres indicated that according to two separate previous press releases issued by Sablan on Jan. 19, 2018 and Jan. 21, 2018, he reportedly “congratulated” the CNMI government and NAP management of the ENAP.

“The CNMI is making good use of the $32.5 million I put into the Agricultural Act of 2014 to make more families eligible and raise food-stamp benefits,” wrote Torres citing Sablan.

“I am curious as to what changed between that assessment and the beginning of your criticism of the management of the program in March?” asked Torres.

Torres pointed out that in 2012 USDA administrator Audrey Rowe issued a letter to Sablan that “severly admonished” the CNMI for overspending on benefits. Torres said the overspending led to benefit reductions to recipients of nearly “14 percent.”

Torres’ letter did not specify the total figure the 14 percent was derived from.

The governor added that because of this, Sablan “called for and received” strengthened oversight from the USDA-FNS—the “same strengthened oversight that sees the very close partnership and approval regime that is in place.”

“The NAP and ENAP are being carried out per plans developed with and agreed upon by the FNS. These carefully developed plans include eligibility and benefit levels,” wrote Torres.

Torres accused Sablan for using the NAP and ENAP as a “political tool.”

“It is my sincere hope that you will rise above using this as a political tool. This should transcend petty politics. You owe this to the people who work hard to carry out this program, and more importantly to the people who depend on the food that is made available to them through this important program,” wrote Torres in conclusion.

Sablan issued another press release yesterday, continuing to ask his administration to spend federal money for the NAP, ENAP programs. Based on Sablan’s press release, he has yet to see Torres’ letter. Torres according to Sablan’s press release also did not acknowledge receipt of the delegate’s June 12, 2018 letter.