SAIPAN Mayor David M. Apatang on Friday administered the oath of office to newly confirmed Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board chairman Oscar M. Babauta, vice chairman Juan K. Tenorio, and Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member Daniel I. Aquino.
The mayor also thanked Babauta and Tenorio for their willingness to serve CNMI students.
The two board members swore to support and defend the CNMI Constitution and Covenant, as well as faithfully discharge their duties and responsibilities on the SHEFA board to the best of their abilities.
Babauta expressed his gratitude to Mayor Apatang for overseeing SHEFA which aims to help CNMI students seeking post-secondary education.
Babauta likewise expressed his appreciation to the SHEFA board, the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, and everyone who supported his nomination for their votes of confidence.
He said that he hopes to convince the sons and daughters of the CNMI to return to the islands and to be part of the local workforce. “That would really help,” he said.
Tenorio, for his part, also expressed his gratitude to all who provided testimonies in support of his renomination to the board.
In an interview, he said in the 12 years that he has served on the board, he has seen the program progress as more and more students pursue higher education.
He noted that his journey to the SHEFA board began when he himself joined the local workforce fresh out of college.
He said his goals and visions for the program remain the same: to continue to assist CNMI students in their pursuit of higher education.
“I just want to see the program fit [all] students [and] help with the local workforce,” he said.
Like Babauta, he too hopes that students will avail themselves of the opportunities to pursue higher education, and ultimately return home to the islands to contribute to the local workforce.
“I just want to continue to help students with their post-secondary education,” he said.
Tenorio also wants to see a more streamlined and smoother process for students as they transition from high school to post-secondary education, whether it be through trade school or traditional colleges or universities.
Amid the global Covid-19 pandemic, Tenorio encourages students navigating through the fluctuating methods of instruction to just keep going.
“You have to learn as you go. Just take that next step,” he said.
All smiles
Newly appointed Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member Aquino was all smiles as he was sworn in by the mayor.
He expressed his gratitude to his wife and Mayor Apatang, and to all who provided testimony on his behalf.
“It’s an honor,” he said.
In an interview, Aquino shared his passion to revive inter-village activities and to deter crime in the municipality by revisiting the concept of a neighborhood watch.
“People are not sure what the municipal council’s functions are, but I want to share my thoughts as far as working closely with the mayor’s office and just basically trying to offer my thoughts and suggestions to other council members and hope that they agree,” he said.
“I’m more of a person who thinks outside of the box.”
Aquino said he would like to present ideas to the council regarding deterring crime within the municipality through modern-day technology such as CCTV cameras in areas with a high crime rate.
In addition, he believes that reviving village sports leagues would also help deter crime while promoting camaraderie among village residents.
“We need to work smarter, not harder,” he added.
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang administers the oath to Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board members Juan K. Tenorio and Oscar M. Babauta on Friday in the mayor’s conference room.
From left, Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance secretary/treasurer Francisco D. Cabrera, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, SHEFA board chair Oscar M. Babauta, SHEFA vice chair Juan K. Tenorio, and special assistant to the mayor Henry Hofschneider pose for a photo in the mayor’s conference room on Friday.
Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board members and staff pose for a group photo following the swearing-in ceremony for chair Oscar M. Babauta, center, and vice chair Juan K. Tenorio, second left.
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang administers the oath to newly appointed Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council member Daniel I. Aquino on Friday in the mayor’s conference room.
