“This is one bill that they are looking forward,” Santos said, referring to the Natural Disaster Village Homestead Waiver Act of 2010 or House Bill 17-19 which has been signed into law by acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos.
“I was very honored and overwhelmed by the acting governor’s signing of the law,” she said.
Santos, Ind.-Rota, said the measure received a lot of comments, including from the mayors, who supported its passage.
There have been instances in the past when homesteaders were issued quitclaim deeds by the Department of Public Lands or its predecessor, the now defunct Marianas Public Lands Authority, Santos said.
This happened whenever a house on a homestead lot was destroyed or severely damaged by typhoon, she added.
Santos introduced the bill with Reps. Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan, Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan, and Rey N. Yumul, R-Saipan, as co-sponsors.
According to the new law, the Legislature has determined that it is “unfair” for DPL to revoke a village homestead permit just because a homesteader failed to re-build a house destroyed by natural or man-made disaster.
The new law requires DPL to waive the requirement or policy of rebuilding a second residential dwelling.
The homesteader must also present proof that his house was completed but destroyed or damaged by typhoon, tsunami or other natural or man-made disasters.
