Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Vice Chair Steve Mesngon speaks during a board meeting on Thursday in the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting classroom of the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
WITH the enactment of Public Law 23-30, which allows the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to pay the commercial rate, the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors is exploring the possibility of paying the same rate.
Like executive branch departments and other government agencies, CPA pays the government rate, the highest tier of utility rates, for electricity, water and wastewater.
On Thursday, the CPA board met with the chair of the House Committee on Public Utilities, Communications and Transportation, Rep. Vincent S. Aldan, to ask him to amend the new law to allow CPA to pay the commercial rate as well.
CPA Board Chair Ramon A. Tebuteb said P.L. 23-30, which Gov. Arnold I. Palacios signed last week, “would have been an opportunity for us to look at our [own utility] rate and have some relief. Unfortunately, we missed the boat because the new law was signed already.”
CPA Vice Chair Steve Mesngon asked, “Are we going to request for an amendment so we can also pay based on the commercial rate?”
Yes, Tebuteb replied.
Mesngon asked if the board can also meet with CUC officials to discuss CUC’s use of some CPA facilities.
“Let’s take a look at those and see if there is any kind of offsetting or any kind of arrangement in regards to our billings. Maybe we can make that arrangement,” Mesngon said.
