By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

SENATOR Rory Respicio, D-Agana Heights, has reintroduced—for the third time—a proposal to create a 12-member panel that would develop “new initiatives to support the current military mission on Guam and foster its expansion.”
The proposed panel, to be called the “Commission on Community Support of the Military Mission on Guam,” would be tasked to formulate a “team Guam approach” to strengthening the relations between Guam and the federal government.
The commission, which Bill 33 proposes to create, would “help coordinate and support all aspects of government policy and private sector efforts in support of achieving the best results for all concerned.”
The bill is coauthored by Sens. Judith Guthertz, D-Mangilao, and Tina Muna-Barnes, D-Mangilao.
Respicio first filed the proposal to create the military commission in the 27th Legislature but it did not pass. His attempt to get it on the floor in the 28th Legislature wasn’t successful either. Meanwhile, Gov. Felix P. Camacho has created the Civilian/Military Task Force to create a master plan for military expansion preparations and planning.
In an earlier interview, Respicio noted the need to create a commission that will “unify” Guam’s voice as the community gears up for the arrival of 8,000 Marines.
The proposed commission would be composed of representatives from the governor’s office, the Guam Chamber of Commerce, the Guam Visitors Bureau, Chamorro rights groups, the Mayors Council, the Legislature, and the Guam Youth Congress.