Rep. Victor Hocog, Ind.-Rota, offered House Joint Resolution 16-2 which urges the U.S. Congress to amend U.S. Public Law 99-396 so that the islands’ financial aid of $27.72 million will be increased to $47.72 million.
Hocog said external factors beyond the CNMI government’s control largely contributed to the slump in the local tourism industry, the backbone of the islands’ economy.
The Saipan garment industry is also on the brink of collapse due to its inability to compete with factories in Third World nations that have lower labor costs.
Hocog said the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. needs at least $24 million to rehabilitate its old power plant facilities which continue to break down causing islandwide blackouts on Saipan.
“The CNMI government is employing different strategies to survive this economic crisis, including laying-off personnel, freezing new hires, reducing working hours, consolidating government offices, and seeking new investors and industries to rebuild the economy,” the lawmaker said.
He added: “Despite these efforts and the enormous sacrifices that the citizens of the CNMI are asked to endure, it is the sense of this Legislature that federal assistance is the only option that will assist the CNMI in its road toward economic recovery.”
