By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Tinian and Aguigan Legislative Delegation last week passed an amended version of House Local Bill 24-39, appropriating $54,000 in poker fee collections for the Tinian Mayor’s Office, municipal council, and the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission.
On Dec. 18, 2025, Tinian Finance’s resident department head, Milissa A. Mendiola, informed Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan that poker operator Huang Shun Corporation paid a total of $108,000 for the renewal of nine poker machine licenses.
The annual local license fee for Tinian is $54,000.
Authored by Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, H.L.B. 24-39, which now goes to the governor, allocates the gambling revenue as follows:
• $42,000 to the Tinian Mayor’s Office. Of this, $32,000 will be allocated for operations, personnel, professional services, and public programs, while the remaining $10,000 will serve as the mayor’s discretionary fund.
• $3,000 to the Tinian Municipal Council for public programs and office operations.
• $4,000 to the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation.
• $5,000 to the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission for personnel and operations.
Prior to the roll-call vote, Sen. Frank Q. Cruz offered a floor amendment requiring the Tinian municipal treasury to submit expenditure reports with supporting documentation to the Finance secretary.
Also present in the session was Tinian delegation chair Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider. Senate President Karl King-Nabors was excused.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
