IN a report to the 40th Annual Association of Pacific Island Legislatures General Assembly in Chuuk, CNMI lawmakers touted the Commonwealth’s “success in solid waste management, mental health and broadband.”
Rep. Denita Yangetmai, an APIL board member, reported on behalf of the CNMI delegation.
Joining her in Chuuk are Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, who is the APIL vice president, Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, an APIL board member, Sen. Celina R. Babauta, Reps. Ralph N. Yumul, Marissa Flores, John Paul Sablan, Diego Vincent F. Camacho, Malcolm Omar and Vincent Aldan.
Also traveling with them were House legal counsel Joe Taijeron, Senate legal counsel Jose Bermudes, House Senior Legislative Assistant Clarissa S. Chong, Senate Senior Legislative Assistant Jolyn D. Tagabuel, and policy consultant Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong.
Yangetmai addressed her report to the APIL board, the president of which is Chuuk State Sen. Nelson Stephen.
She discussed the CNMI’s “efforts towards the formulation of its first comprehensive integrated solid waste management plan,” and the enactment of Public Law 22-23, which allowed the CNMI to join the Psychology Inter-jurisdictional Compact and improve and expand access to mental healthcare in the CNMI.
She also mentioned P.L. 22-24, which established a behavioral health professional scholarship.
She said the CNMI has also “taken great strides to improve our broadband infrastructure plans.”
Earlier this year, she said Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, through Directive 2023-3, established the Broadband Policy and Development Program for the CNMI under his office.
Soon after, Yangetmai said the CNMI was awarded $1.4 million in an Internet-for-All planning grant to bring affordable and reliable high-speed internet services in the islands of NMI.
She added that under President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the CNMI was also awarded an $80.7 million grant to boost access to high-speed internet.
The theme of this year’s five-year APIL Assembly is “Regional Security and Climate Change: Strengthening Pacific Security and Livelihood.”
Besides the CNMI, APIL members are Guam, American Samoa, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Hawaii.
Denita K. Yangetmai
