According to acting Secretary of the Department of Cultural Affairs Melvin Faisao, they will request the federal government to increase the program’s funding from $9 million to $13 million in light of the 17 percent rise in the consumer price index.
He said the CNMI government has to prepare for the expected increase in the number of people seeking food stamps.
NAP’s clients are low-income residents.
It has around 7,000 clients who represents over 2,000 households.
Faisao said of this figure number, over 25 percent are locals.
On Jan. 11, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial wrote a letter to Allen Ng, U.S. Department of Agriculture administrator, asking for an increase in the NAP budget and the removal of the budget cap imposed by the federal agency.
Faisao said he’s hoping that the CNMI’s first congressional delegate will seek more federal assistance for food stamps, the senior food nutrition meal program, child care development and indigenous language maintenance and preservation.
