A state of emergency was declared by acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos after the island’s only hospital ran out of important laboratory supplies because of the government’s failure to pay CHC’s vendors.
Maratita on Friday authorized Secretary of Finance Larissa Larson to check the lawmaker’s personal House allotment.
Each lawmaker is allocated $86,000 in discretionary funds which are usually used for the hiring of personnel and their office operations.
Maratita, R-Saipan, said she will be able to conduct her duties as a legislator even if she allows CHC to tap into her discretionary funds.
“I will be able to survive,” she said.
She challenged her colleagues to do the same.
But Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, believes that none of the other lawmakers have any more money in their accounts.
“I know I don’t have any,” he said.
He said Maratita, too, doesn’t have any available money in her account.
“I’m going to speak for myself and not for any other member. What I have left in my account is reserved for staff salaries,” Reyes said.
He pointed out that his office is observing austerity Fridays.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, said the Legislature “has to look at every angle to make sure health services are addressed in the commonwealth.”
When asked if he would follow Maratita’s proposal, he said he will be “willing to do anything.”
Department of Public Health acting Secretary Esther Muna said the CHC emergency is not a matter of inefficiency.
“It’s really about the cash,” she said.
“We don’t have the cash. The invoices are there, it’s pending, but again, it’s just the cash.”
CHC currently owes $2.9 million to its vendors, but Muna said $500,000 will allow the hospital to pay off its vendors for critical supplies such as laboratory reagents.
