Spearheaded by Rep. Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan, the project aims to improve sports facilities on certain areas.
“We want to make sure that we have this facility available for the youth,” Palacios said, adding that the community basketball court has been neglected for years hence the court has not been used for a long time.
He said the project he is pursuing is in line with his campaign to clean up the community by replacing dilapidated public sports facilities and by clearing the outgrowths along roads.
Palacios said the Susupe District 5 basketball court is one of four sports facilities that he will try to install with new facilities with the help of the Division of Sports & Recreation of DCCA, and the office of some lawmakers.
Yesterday, the Division of Sports & Recreation crew was able to install just one new board, ring, and net in the Susupe basketball court since they are still waiting for the other materials to arrive at their office.
The new basketball board, ring, and net cost about $500.
Palacios also said that after his project in Susupe basketball court is over, he will try to provide new basketball board, ring and net in Chalan Kanoa court.
When asked if the Legislature has funds to provide the CNMI boys and girls basketball teams who are preparing for the Oceania caging tournament, Palacios admitted the government is in a tight budget.
However, he said, the Legislature may review a request for financial assistance by the Division of Sports & Recreation should the agency pursue such action.
According to Elias Rangamar, president of Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Island, the girls and boys basketball teams of CNMI need money for airfare to Guam.
Currently, Rangamar mentioned, each member of the girls caging team is conducting fundraising drive in order to raise money to pay for their own plane ticket.
