Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, left, and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, right, with the newly sworn in Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission members James Sirok, 2nd left, and Dr. John “Jack” Angello, on Friday in the governor’s conference room.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios swears in Dr. John “Jack” Angello.
Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang swears in James Sirok.
GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang swore in new Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission members James Sirok and Dr. John “Jack” Angello after the Senate confirmed their nominations on Friday, June 30.
Angello was sworn in by the governor while Sirok was sworn in by Apatang two hours after the Senate unanimously adopted the Senate Executive Appointments and Government Investigations or EAGI committee report recommending their confirmation during a Senate session at 2 p.m.
The current CPUC members are Oscar Quitugua of Rota and Ramon S. Sablan of Saipan.
CPUC is the regulatory agency of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Public Law No. 15-40 states: “The Commission shall be composed of five members…[who] shall be of good ethical standing in their field of expertise and demonstrate experience in business regulation, in a business regulated by the Commission, or in accounting, law, or engineering. The Governor shall seek to appoint members with managerial or engineering experience in one of the fields of power engineering, water treatment, wastewater management, telecommunications, cable television services, and accounting.”
After the swearing-in ceremony, Palacios and Apatang sat down with Sirok and Angello and discussed some concerns regarding CUC.
In an interview after the Senate session, Sirok said he was pleased and happy that the House of Representatives and the Senate have shown their confidence in him and Angello.
The House confirmed their nominations on Wednesday, June 28.
A retired educator, Angello said he, too, was happy that he and Sirok were confirmed. He noted Sirok’s long experience with CUC. As for himself, Angello said he has been in the CNMI for a long time.
“We need positive change for both sides — CUC and the consumers. There are some major issues that need to be addressed and I believe that with Basa and Quitugua, we can get together and create a working condition,” Angello said.
All the seven senators present voted yes to confirm Sirok and Angello. Senate Vice President Donald Manglona and Sen. Paul A. Manglona were excused.
Prior to the roll call vote, the EAGI chair, Sen. Celina Babauta, noted that Angello has served in multiple capacities in the CNMI to include being a principal in the Public School System. He also served as legislative assistant for then-Rep. Stanley T. Torres.
Babauta said Angello is a “well-rounded judicious candidate to serve on the CPUC.”
As for Sirok, the senator noted his willingness to serve. Babauta said it was the consensus of the committee that Sirok’s experience as legal counsel of CUC “provides not just a…familiarity but an intricate understanding of the complexities of utilities management including telecommunications and energy-related matters.”
Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero said she was relieved that they were finally confirming CPUC members. “It’s been a long time coming,” she said.
She added that the people of the Commonwealth have been “crying out loud” for a review of the fuel adjustment charge or FAC, which goes up and down depending on the international price of fuel for CUC’s power plants.
Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, for his part, asked Sirok and Angello to look into the possibility of a “special rate” for local ranchers.
CEDA nominee
The Senate also unanimously confirmed the appointment of Dana Calvo to the Commonwealth Economic Development Authority. Calvo attended the Senate session from Rota via video call.
Prior to the roll call vote, Babauta noted that Calvo holds two bachelor’s degrees. During a public hearing, the senator said Calvo was “able to articulate her vigorous ideas for the younger generation to become entrepreneurs.” She also noted her desire to serve on the CEDA board.
The EAGI committee recommends her confirmation so Calvo can begin implementing her ideas “for a prosperous CNMI.”
Calvo graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Digital Media.
After graduating, she moved to San Diego, California where she worked with the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency and then at the Auditor and Controller’s Office in the Office of Revenue and Recovery.
She returned to Rota in 2020 and currently works as a manager at Calvo Enterprises Inc., which operates the Sasanhaya Service Station and the Carlos & Sabina Fruit Farm.
