Del Rosario told Rep. Francisco S. Dela Cruz, Covenant-Saipan, that the number of land compensation claimants continues to increase.
A few years ago, DPL estimated the government would need $67 million to settle their claims.
This year, however, Del Rosario told Dela Cruz: “this amount is outdated because the Department of Public Lands has received and continues to receive additional certifications of private property takings.”
“Based on the previous disbursements of land claims monetary compensation, realistically, we need approximately between $150 to $200 million to retire the commonwealth’s outstanding obligations to private landowners whose lands had been taken and have yet to receive their just compensation,” said Del Rosario.
The previous administration floated a $40 million bond to settle its debts to landowners claiming compensation for their lands that were used for roads, ponding basin, schools, among other projects.
Of the amount only about $28 million went to the land compensation project, the rest was allotted for the new prison facility.
