By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE fiscal position of the Department of Public Lands remains in surplus, according to DPL Secretary Sixto Igisomar.
In a letter to Senate Vice President Corina Magofna, Igisomar provided an update on public land lease payments ahead of last week’s Senate Committee on Resources, Economic Development and Workforce meeting.
He shared with Magofna, who chairs the committee, the lease payment updates and the list of public land leases with hotels and golf resorts, in response to the senator’s request in December.
Regarding lease payments, Igisomar said DPL’s initial budget estimate for fiscal year 2026 was approximately $4.89 million. The department’s monthly collection target, he added, averages over $400,000 to meet that goal.
He informed Magofna that as of November 2025, “our fiscal position remains in surplus, supported by strong October performance, although operational efficiency was more constrained in November.”
A record of revenue collection submitted to the committee indicates that DPL collected a total of $695,984 in public land revenue from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in October 2025. Collections for November totaled $304,608, and December’s revenue reached $378,735.
As of December 2025, DPL had collected $1.3 million in land lease revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026.
On temporary occupancy agreements and other revenue sources, records show that DPL has collected an additional $1.2 million.
DPL’s financial report noted that the Finance Office and DPL’s compliance division are working collaboratively on lessees due for appraisal to prevent revenue losses. The department emphasized that finance staff are proactive in collections, particularly for delinquent accounts, to meet or surpass the forecast and sustain DPL’s daily operations.
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.
