By Haidee V. Eugenio
Variety Assistant Editor

DEPUTY Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Affairs David B. Cohen will be here this week to attend the 7th Western Micronesia Chief Executives Summit, and to meet with members of the Filipino community.
Jeff Schorr, OIA field representative on Saipan, said Cohen will arrive Tuesday night.
The 7th Western Micronesian Chief Executives Summit will be held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa.
On Sunday, March 25, Cohen will meet with leaders of the Filipino community at the multi-purpose hall in Susupe, starting at 2 p.m., to discuss the proposed federalization of the CNMI immigration system and its possible impact on guest workers.
Most of the guest workers in the CNMI are from the Philippines and China.
Schorr said Cohen will also be meeting with other sectors of the community, and local government officials.
“But the schedule is not finalized as yet,” said Schorr.
Cohen earlier told the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that federalization of the CNMI’s immigration system should minimize damage to an economy that has “gotten worse” since last year, and maximize potential for future economic growth.
Cohen said Interior is ready to explore with the Senate panel and with CNMI representatives various options for establishing such a framework, including federalizing the CNMI’s immigration system “in a manner that will not cause needless economic or fiscal harm.”
The U.S. Senate committee, which has oversight over the CNMI and other insular areas, has yet to announce the introduction of legislation extending federal immigration law to the CNMI.