THE Rota legislative delegation recently passed three local bills, which according to Sen. Ricardo S. Atalig, would address the island’s economic needs.
Senate Local Bill 13-2 introduced by Senate President Paul A. Manglona seeks to establish a Rota municipal scholarship foundation which would provide the island’s young people and worthy adults with educational grants and loans.
Manglona, R-Rota, said such loans and grants “will secure an educated and productive workforce to serve Rota’s future economic needs and at the same time help indigenous peoples reach their full potential.”
Manglona said scholarships provided through the Post-Secondary Education Scholarship Act of 1990, which he also authored, did not fully benefit Rota scholars as it was not adequately funded.
He said the measure seeks to tap scholarship funds from the Marianas Public Land Trust which is authorized under the Constitution to provide such “prudent investments.”
H.L.B. 13-28 introduced by Rep. Daniel O. Quitugua seeks to appropriate $142,000 from the local license fees for pachinko slot machines and poker machines.
Quitugua, R-Rota, said the fund would be expended for the following projects and programs: dialysis patients subsistence allowance, agricultural fair competition awards, Mes Manamko’-Quality of Life celebration activities and travel expenses, Rota economic and tourism promotional video production and other sports and school activities.
S.L.B. 13-3 introduced by Atalig, R-Rota, seeks to impose a complete ban on the exportation of raw bayogo from the island.
Atalig said large quantities of bayogo are being harvested and exported out of Rota for manufacturing handicrafts that are sold in gift shops particularly to tourists. He said that the ban on the export of bayogo would encourage the establishment of handicraft manufacturers on the island, increase local employment and sources of income.
