THE Department of Public Lands in its 2020 annual report highlighted its accomplishments, which included collecting $5.3 million in fiscal year 2020, $4.1 million of which was from land leases and permit fees.
DPL Acting Secretary Sixto Igisomar submitted the department’s annual report to Speaker Edmund Villagomez on Monday last week.
Aside from land lease and permit fees collections, DPL also reported that since 2006, the department has remitted a total of $26 million to Marianas Public Land Trust as of fiscal year 2019.
In FY 2019, DPL said it remitted $4.4 million, although MPLT demanded a total of $5,620,461, saying that DPL “improperly segregated and allocated the said amount for itself without lawful authority.”
In its report, DPL also informed the speaker about the 40-year lease agreement with Fiesta Resort & Spa, which is now known as Crowne Plaza, with a public benefit of $3.5 million.
Last month, DPL proposed a new 40-year lease agreement with Hyatt Regency Saipan. Its general manager, Nick Nishikawa, told Variety that he was still waiting for the copy of the proposed lease agreement from DPL.
The department said it also executed a 25-year lease with West Lake Motors in May last year, with a public benefit of $500,000 and a 15-year lease extension with Ken Coward in Koblerville.
Igisomar likewise informed the speaker about the signing of the five-year special concession agreement with UTOP Investment (Saipan) Inc. for Managaha operations. The new agreement, the report said, “will generate [a] higher return for people of Northern Marianas Descent as many operational and administrative fees will be absorbed by the new concessionaire.”
Moreover, DPL mentioned the issuance of $2.3 million in certifications for land compensation payments. A total of $391,327 in partial payments and $1.5 million in full payments were issued to land compensation claimants.
According to the department, the $220,652 maintenance assistance program grant it received from the Office of Insular Affairs is for the Managaha Safety Railing Project, and involves installing railing and directional signage at the Managaha pier.
Other accomplishments
Also in 2020, DPL said the Marpi properties (the former Mariana Resort) were converted and are now maintained as an active Covid-19 quarantine site.
DPL, in addition, held a Saipan Village Homestead lottery through which nine homestead lots were awarded.
The department likewise sponsored the first annual scholarship essay contest for NMDs.
DPL said its regulations were amended to reduce to 3% from 5% the percentage of fair market value for matured leases.
The department, moreover, absorbed 40 employees from the Department of Lands and Natural Resources-Division of Parks and Recreation to ensure that public beach sites, community basketball courts and tourist sites are maintained.
Lastly, DPL awarded 35 deeds to qualified homesteaders on Tinian and eight on Saipan.
Sixto Igisomar
