THE Department of Lands and Natural Resources hopes to receive additional funding in the revised fiscal year 2023 budget that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is expected to submit to the Legislature by July 1.
According to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Donald Manglona, DLNR submitted a $3.9 million budget request for FY 2023, but the governor’s budget submission on April 1 proposed $2.13 million only for the department.
During a budget hearing on Wednesday, DLNR Secretary Anthony Benavente told the committee that Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig had indicated that a revised budget would be submitted in July. “I’m hoping that they will abide by our [original budget] proposal for fiscal year 2023,” Benavente added.
DLNR’s division directors also talked with the committee about their own budget requests.
These included Agriculture Division Director Jack Ogumoro, Fish and Wildlife Division Director Manny Pangelinan, Land Registration and Survey Director Joaquin Songsong, and Parks and Recreation Acting Director Ray Sablan.
Benavente told the committee that DLNR’s main office is also handling projects, including the improvement of Outer Cove Marina.
He said DLNR plans to develop the marina into a commercial facility. This project is estimated to cost $5 million, he said, adding that an important feature of the Outer Cove Marina improvement is the breakwater.
Committee Chairman Manglona asked Benavente how many DLNR employees are 100% funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Benavente said of all 38 personnel of Parks and Recreation, 10 of Agriculture, three of Land Registration and Survey, seven of Fish and Wildlife, and three of the DNLR main office are ARPA-funded.
He said some of these employees were furloughed last year and were recalled when the ARPA funds for the CNMI became available.
As for the Parks and Recreation employees, he said they were laterally transferred to the Department of Public Lands two years ago, but were re-assigned to DLNR last year.
Benavente said the employment of the ARPA-funded personnel will expire on Sept. 30, 2022.
“I don’t know why, but they say it’s because they are on ARPA funds,” he added.
He said he is hoping that the governor’s revised budget would allow these employees to keep their jobs for another year.
According to Pangelinan, if not for the ARPA funds, Fish and Wildlife would have lost seven of its conservation enforcement personnel.
He said although his division is heavily funded by federal grants, these do not cover enforcement activities, but are mostly for research, wildlife protection and the marina.
Pangelinan said conservation enforcement is the only section in his division that relies on local funds. The rest are funded by federal grants, he added.
Currently, Fish and Wildlife’s enforcement personnel and operations are funded by ARPA, he said, adding: “It would be nice if ARPA would continue to fund conservation enforcement through FY 2023.”
Department of Lands and Natural Resources officials led by Secretary Anthony Benavente appear before the House Committee on Ways and Means in the House chamber on Wednesday.
