Governor-elect Arnold I. Palacios speaks to members of the media as Lt. Gov.-elect David M. Apatang listens during a press conference at the AD 2022 headquarters in Garapan on Monday.
GOVERNOR-ELECT Arnold I. Palacios at a press conference on Monday said his administration would continue the “meaningful and impactful” programs funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
But he also noted that the ARPA funds are “going to disappear” soon. “I am going to be very honest to the public,” he added. “I could not promise that your [ARPA-funded] job that is supposed to expire on Dec. 30th is going to be extended,” referring to the temporary job positions that outgoing Gov. Ralph DLG Torres created for ARPA-funded programs.
Palacios said his administration will have to look at those jobs, which include 300 temporary positions on Saipan, Tinian and Rota that were allotted $6 million in ARPA funds.
Palacios said people should know that ARPA-funded jobs are temporary in nature.
He said he has looked at some of the programs and projects that the governor initiated using ARPA funds, and “some of them, I questioned the relevance.”
However, he added, “some were well put together, meaningful and impactful to the community.”
But Palacios said he will not renew employment contracts if he believes that the job positions are “wasteful.”
Still, “I am not going to go in there and terminate and disrupt people’s life,” he added. “But I…want to give everyone the time to potentially look for other employment.”
He said if an ARPA-funded program has a “meaningful impact” and should be continued, “then, we will continue those — that is all I can say.”
