Introduced by Rep. Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, House Resolution 17-30 was unanimously passed by voice vote.
Because of the increasing cost of living in the CNMI, the resolution is requesting the commonwealth government and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to amend their memorandum of understanding and provide “sufficient additional funding” to meet the demand of nutrition assistance program recipients whose working hours have been reduced and are experiencing delayed paydays.
In a phone interview after the delegation session on Rota, Santos said many residents, especially government employees, may lose their jobs because of the government’s dwindling financial resources.
This is compounded by the increasing cost of utilities, commodities, gasoline and medical needs, she added.
She said the “unprecedented” loss of annual income has hit more than 4,000 government workers who now can be expected to become eligible for food stamps.
She noted that due to the CNMI’s remoteness, the shipping cost makes the cost of imported products like gasoline too high for residents.
According to Santos, Rota has submitted its consumer price index to the Department of Commerce and she said this will substantiate her resolution since the CPI is one of the requirements to assess the food stamp program in a jurisdiction.
Her resolution noted that the survey conducted by Commerce indicated “surges” in the cost of consumer products, which means that the buying power of the people has dramatically decreased.
Because of the worsening economy of the islands, Santos said it is now difficult to predict how much revenue the government will collect.
This, she added, threatens the jobs of many government employees.
The CNMI government, which pays high salaries and offers generous benefits, is the primary employer of local residents.
