SYLVAN O. Igisomar, who has been appointed by the governor as secretary of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, said he and his team are now looking at DLNR’s budget.
“It has been a very busy week,” he told Variety. “As soon as I started work, we immediately looked at the budget [as] we were tasked to present our new budget recommendations last week.”
Igisomar, whose appointment requires Senate consent, said his top three priorities are to fix the budget, seek available federal assistance and relocate the DLNR office to Capital Hill from Lower Base.
He said funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is available for the relocation of the DLNR office.
Amid the government’s financial crisis, Igisomar said DLNR will not terminate its employees — except for the two whose positions were funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
“There are no more ARPA funds,” he added.
Igisomar said DLNR’s locally funded positions will be retained, including the heads of the Division of Agriculture, the Soil and Water Conservation District, the Division of Fish & Wildlife, and the Division of Lands and Surveys.
“We need people to do the work. Most of the positions are permanent,” he said, adding that they are still trying to fill the Division of Parks & Recreation director’s position.
“I will be working with all divisions and ensure that they are doing what they are supposed to do,” Igisomar said.
He noted that his new position pays less compared to what he received in the private sector.
“But I am here to carry out the government’s mission to be accountable and transparent in everything we do. I am in…this role so that the community will see the changes that they have been hoping for. I already made personal sacrifices that are significant to me and my family,” he said.
After retiring as DFW director in 2010, Igisomar worked as an emergency management planner for a private company in Washington, D.C.
Igisomar has a master’s in public administration from Grand Canyon University in Arizona, and a bachelor of science in natural resources-conservation biology from Colorado State University.
Igisomar received his appointment letter from Gov. Arnold I. Palacios on Jan. 20 and started working as acting DLNR secretary on Jan. 30.
“I am in support of the CNMI leadership, and I share the same mission and vision…for the betterment of the community,” Igisomar said.
He expressed his gratitude to the Palacios-Apatang administration “for their confidence and support” in appointing him to a cabinet position.
Igisomar said he is committed to supporting the administration meet its goals in addressing natural resource matters.
Acting DLNR Secretary Sylvan O. Igisomar
