“We’re asking individual groups to look at sites in the Commonwealth and possibly talk about transforming them to make them aesthetically more presentable and to be better,” said council member Alex Sablan, vice president of corporate business development at Tan Holdings Corp.
He also chairs the council’s committee on tourism infrastructure and resumption of tourism.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, he said a lot of tourist sites have been damaged by recent storms.
“We’ve set aside a pot of money that’s going to help in the effort to transform these sites,” he added.
The Marianas Association of Filipino Engineers and Architects, one of the community organizations participating in the program, assesses the sites, provides architecture and engineering consulting services, determines what types of materials are needed, and estimates the cost.
Work is being done on multiple tourist sites, including the Grotto, which now has new railings above the observation deck and is having its stairs revamped.
Other popular sites include the Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway, Garapan Central Park, Suicide Cliff, public parks, beaches, and trails.
The sites will also have new signs and will be maintained by organizations that have taken it upon themselves to be responsible for the upkeep of these sites.
“This is all possible because there’s a great collaboration with Gov. Torres, Lt. Gov. Palacios, and many of the government agencies and public and private partners,” Sablan said.
“The idea is to make [these sites] significantly better than they were prior to Covid-19 and, again, after the recent disasters.”
He added, “Every week, we’re picking up new partners and so we’re hopeful that… that dynamic is there. And we’re willing to help organizations financially with transforming a particular site that they adopt.”
As of Nov. 18, the participating organizations included the Marianas Association of Filipino Engineers and Architects, International Roller Skates, Tasi and the Ali’is, DiveWish, Loco and Taco Dining Bar, Bibong Corp. (Marianas Lighthouse), P&A Corporation, Marianas Racing Association, Tan Holdings/Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Kanoa Football Club, Beach Road Tourism Development, Inc., E-Land Group, Bridge Capital LLC, Rotary Club of Saipan, Emon Masonic Lodge 179, Rota Mayor’s Office, FilCorp, Rota Merchandising, DK Brother, Hotel Valentino, Commonwealth Ports Authority- Saipan and Rota, Lions Club International District 204, Region 2, Airport Operators Committee, POI Aviation, Triathlon Association of CNMI, NMI Cycling Federation, CTSI Logistics, Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, United Filipino Organization, Korean Community of Saipan, Kanoa Resort Saipan, and the Chinese Association of Saipan.
To be a part of this partnership, contact Edna Nicola at 233-8080.
