By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Commonwealth will begin rolling out its $40 million Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program next week, with officials stressing that the storm-related aid is strictly limited to households that lived or worked in the disaster area and meet federal income and resource requirements.
At Thursday’s press briefing, Gov. David M. Apatang, Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Frank Rabauliman, NAP Administrator Margaret Aldan, and NAP Administrative Services Supervisor Annie Reyes outlined the program’s eligibility requirements and implementation plans, emphasizing that DNAP is intended for non-NAP households severely affected by Typhoon Sinlaku.
Aldan said DNAP is designed solely for residents directly impacted during the federally approved disaster period.
“The Disaster Nutrition Assistance Program, as we all know, it’s for people that are impacted, right, severely impacted by a disaster,” she said. “That means you have to be living in the disaster area, which for us is CNMI…Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands.”
She added that the approved benefit period runs from April 11 to May 10, and that both residency and eligible expenses must fall within that timeframe.
Reyes explained that eligibility rules are set by federal authorities.
“These are extensive requirements that was put forth not by our office, but our federal grantors,” she said. “These rules weren’t created by NAP. These were given by FNA.”
She noted strict income thresholds for eligibility. “The gross income limit for one household is 2,499. Because they exceeded $1 they do not qualify…even if you’re $1 short,” she said.
DNAP eligibility is determined by combining household income and available resources, then subtracting documented disaster-related expenses incurred between April 11 and May 10.
Reyes also confirmed that non-U.S. nationals may qualify if they meet all income, resource, and residency requirements.
“There wasn’t any immigration status post on that part, so yes, they are,” she said. “If you meet the income and resource criteria, then you are deemed eligible.”
She estimated that about 5,300 households are currently enrolled in NAP, out of roughly 9,000 households in the CNMI, meaning DNAP is expected to reach a significant number of non-NAP families.
Rabauliman said DNAP benefits will be distributed through EBT cards for the first time.
“This is the same team that brought the EBT card…and with this upcoming DNAP, this is going to be the first time that NAP is going to employ the use of the cards for the distribution of DNAP,” he said.
He added that USDA has approved up to two months of assistance, but only the first month is guaranteed.
“The second month is not automatic…that’s based on how well we implement the first month,” he said, noting that federal monitors will be on island.
Gov. Apatang acknowledged public frustration with federal processes but said compliance requirements remain complex.
“Every step that we take here, it’s a lot of challenge,” he said. “Hopefully, the federal government can streamline some of the policy…because we’re different from the States. We’re so far away from the U.S. mainland.”
He urged residents to apply once intake begins.
“Finally, it’s here. Take advantage of it. When it’s time for you to go and apply, make sure you get in your car and make it over to multipurpose and apply.”
Aldan reminded the public that individuals cannot participate in both assistance programs.
“You’re either a NAP recipient or a DNAP recipient, and you cannot be both. That is a big no-no,” she said.
Reyes warned that misuse of benefits, including using them to pay store credit, could result in severe penalties.
“Any violations…could cause very, very severe penalties,” she said.
DNAP intake will begin next week across the islands.
On Tinian and Rota, applications will be accepted from June 24 to 26 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on June 27 from 8 a.m. to noon. On Tinian, both applications and EBT distribution will be held at the U.S. Delegate’s Office, while Rota will conduct both at its NAP office.
On Saipan, applications will run from June 30 to July 2 and July 8 to 11 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the NAP office in As Lito. EBT card distribution will take place at the multi-purpose center from July 1 to 2, July 6 to 10, and July 13 to 17, also from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Officials said the distribution site may be adjusted depending on operational needs.
Officials said online applications, fillable forms, income guidelines, and full schedules will be available by Monday. Forms will also be distributed at government offices and public locations across the Commonwealth to improve access for residents without reliable internet or printing access.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
