Most of those who have already left the island are young men and women who either wanted to join the military or who have found opportunities for their families abroad, former Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona said.
He believes that some of them will return to the island once the economy improves.
“We are trying to discourage them from moving,” he added. “But we don’t lose hope; we are still hoping our economy will improve.”
Manglona said there are lots of factors why Rota residents are leaving their island, and these include education and health issues.
Former Senate President Julian S. Calvo said lack of jobs is the main reason why residents are leaving the island.
Most of the businesses are managed by local residents and they “can’t hire more people,” he said. “There are no jobs and everybody is looking for work.”
He added, “We need numbers and we need people.”
With the federalization of local immigration, however, Calvo said the situation will worsen.
He said more workers, including local residents, will be displaced.
Calvo predicts a further increase in the prices of commodities even as the people’s purchasing power declines.
The prices on Rota are already high, he said.
“They have also other concerns like paying for utility.”
The government, the main employer of local residents, cannot increase its salary levels because there’s no funding available, Calvo added.
