(Office of the Governor) — Earlier this week, Robert Fenton, FEMA Region IX administrator and Joe Engler, FEMA Region IX recovery division director, were on Saipan for a day’s visit. After touring several FEMA project sites, which included the NMC Student Center and Hopwood Middle School’s modular classrooms, Regional Administrator Fenton met with Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang.
Fenton notified Governor Palacios and Lt. Governor Apatang that he is pleased with the significant progress undertaken by the CNMI since his April 30, 2025, letter to the governor. He also clarified that the letter is standard and other Region IX jurisdictions were also formally notified to spend FEMA funds and complete longstanding disaster recovery projects. To that point, Fenton further clarified that “As long as projects are moving and FEMA funds are spent in accordance to grant requirements, FEMA will grant extensions beyond October 30, 2025, to ensure project completion and closeout.”
For his part, Governor Palacios extended his gratitude to the visiting FEMA officials for their continued guidance and support and assured them that the CNMI is moving expeditiously and will timely complete these FEMA projects. “As I publicly stated after receiving your letter, the administration and PAO are diligently and arduously working with subrecipients and on-island FEMA officials in pushing out these projects that were previously on hold pending FEMA’s approval on several time extension requests. To be blunt, your letter is well received and somewhat of a blessing in disguise in that stalled FEMA projects are now moving forward expeditiously and shall continue to move at this accelerated pace until project completion and closeout,” Governor Palacios said.
Other meeting attendees include Joe Engler, FEMA Region IX Recovery Division director; Randy Clayton, FEMA long-term recovery office; and Brian Beck, and FEMA integration team lead.
On the CNMI’s side and joining Governor Palacios and Lt. Governor Apatang were Patrick Guerrero, public assistance officer and the governor’s authorized representative for Yutu; Kimo Rosario, governor’s special advisor for policy and programs, Edward Tenorio, governor’s policy consultant; Brien S. Nicholas, special assistant to the governor and GAR for Mawar; John Gonzales, governor’s communications and policy advisor and acting special assistant for administration; Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero, NMC president; Frankie Eliptico, NMC vice president; Dr. Lawrence Camacho, education commissioner; and Eric Magofna, Public School System associate commissioner for administrative services.
