By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

FORMER Tinian Mayor Francisco M. Borja now heads the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission replacing William M. Cing.
Cing’s six-year term on the commission ended on Jan. 9, but Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas extended his contract for 120 days pending completion of the work on new casino investments.
Although the extension period is set to expire in May, Borja has already assumed the chairmanship to ensure a smooth transition.
According to the law, a commissioner can only serve one six-year term.
Besides Cing and Borja, the other commissioners are Serafina R. King-Nabor, Juanita M. Mendiola and Peter Q. Cruz.
King-Nabors’ term is also expiring next month.
The rest of the commissioners are newly appointed.
The law that created the commission states that the five commissioners are to be appointed by the mayor, and each will serve a term of six years.
Each commissioner is entitled to receive compensation not to exceed $75,000 annually from a budget adopted by the commission for its operations and approved by the Tinian Municipal Council.
When approving licenses for casino investments, the signatures of all five members are needed.
“The mayor is expected tofilled the vacancy (once Cing’s extension ends) because it is required in the casino license — the approval of its five full members,” according to Rep. Edwin P. Aldan, Covenant-Tinian.
He said the island’s legislative delegation welcomes the election of the new commission chairman, Borja.
“We support former Mayor Borja as the new chairman of the commission,” Aldan said. “We have worked with him and we are convinced he will be an asset to the commission.”
Aldan said they also appreciate Cing’s work for the island.
“It was a good experience for all of us having worked with Chairman Cing. Under his leadership we dealt with a lot of issues that we’ve never dealt with before,” he said.