By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

FIRE officials said yesterday the proposed new fee schedules for the services being provided by the Guam Fire Department would generate $1.2 million in additional revenue for the department.
Acting GFD Chief David Peredo said although the new fees to be collected would go straight to the general fund, the department would be the ultimate beneficiary.
“We can use this money to buy more equipment and tools for our firemen,” Peredo said in a brief interview with Variety after testifying before the Legislature.
GFD has a budget of $21 million in 2007.
The Legislature yesterday began deliberating the new fees proposed by the administration for GFD.
Sen. Adolpho Palacios, D-Ordot/Chalan Pago, proposed an amendment to require GFD to properly notify the public about the new fee schedules.
Sen. Judith Guthertz, D-Mangilao, suggested that GFD must ensure that military contractors are also made aware of the new fees established by GFD.
Sen. Ben Pangelinan, D-Barrigada Heights, meanwhile, noted one particular fee item that he said tends to complicate the permitting system. He was referring to the permit for storage of chips, hogged material and lumber, for which GFD would charge $35 annually.
Assistant Fire Chief Mike Uncangco said the storage permit is separate from the business license that the Department of Revenue and Taxation requires for doing a lumber business. “GFD requires permit for keeping a garage, while Rev&Tax requires a separate permit for conducting business as a garage,” he said.
Pangelinan said the two-tiered permit system is more costly for entrepreneurs.
Meanwhile, Sen. Rory Respicio, D-Agana Heights, slammed the Bureau of Budget and Management Research for not showing up at the Legislature to testify on the administration’s proposed fee adjustments.
“This budget is the Bureau of Budget’s single most important mandate and they’re nowhere. What is BBMR doing if they’re not doing their jobs?” he asked.