THE Youth Congress on Saturday adopted Youth Congress Resolution 18-6 requesting Gov. Ralph DLG Torres to provide fuel and/or utility vouchers to qualified households in the CNMI.
Authored by Youth Sen. Liekeila’akata T. Iakopo, the resolution states that local revenues are not enough to fund the vouchers, but “it is allowable under the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act.”
The federal money provided by ARPA, the resolution says, aims to help individuals “in getting back [on] their feet financially.”
The Youth Congress “feels that the same can be done to remedy the stress on finances brought upon by rising fuel and utility prices.”
Citing the fuel price increases, the resolution states that residents “have to deal with the hardship of these cost hikes which in turn have had them deciding whether to pay for either their home utilities or to fuel their vehicles, to both go to work and pick up their children from school.”
According to the resolution, “The need to help those who qualify for assistance in affording these modern-day necessities is an issue that we as leaders cannot ignore.”
From left, Youth Sens. Yurihana DLG Sasamoto, Abriette Patience Manglona, Easton Joel Dela Cruz, Youth Congress Speaker Cielo Citlalli Long and Youth Sen. Liekeila’akata T. Iakopo pose for a photo during their inauguration last year.
