GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres, Commonwealth Ports Authority board members, lawmakers, other officials and business community leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning for the $9.7 million commuter terminal construction project at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
The old terminal has not been operational since it was heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu in October 2018.
CPA Executive Director Christopher Tenorio said it took four years before construction could finally begin because of the challenges in drawing down insurance proceeds, the Covid-19 pandemic, and changes to the architectural and engineering design.
Nonetheless, he said CPA “worked diligently” to implement the project.
Instead of renovating the damaged 8,800-square-foot commuter terminal, the CPA board decided to replace it with a new 10,000-square-foot facility with updated amenities, four airline counters and office spaces, a larger footprint for arrival and departure areas, and a public access office for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It will also have a food and beverage concession area and upgraded restrooms.
Hong Ye Rental & Construction is the contractor and construction should be completed in 540 calendar days.
CPA Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds became emotional as she delivered her remarks, saying “it has been a long journey to get here.”
After Super Typhoon Yutu hit the islands, CPA filed for a claim with the insurance company “and when we did that, we ran into some glitches, some problems with drawing down the claim because the insurance providers in London were claiming that we were underinsured and the damage amount was too great.”
She, along with the CPA team, had to travel to London to give a presentation to people who did not know where the CNMI was and who believed that CPA’s insurance claim was “tremendous.”
She said they were able to “make a case” and obtained $26 million in insurance proceeds, which made the construction of a new commuter terminal possible.
“So congratulations to all of us. Give yourself a round of applause,” she told CPA officials and staff, “and a shoutout to the very hardworking staff of CPA.”
Another great day
In his remarks, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said, “This is another great day in the Marianas.”
He said sometimes, “we expect everything to be renovated immediately” but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, among other reasons, the process of securing the funds took two to three years.
He congratulated the CPA board, officials and personnel for their hard work and dedication to improve the airport, which is vital to the tourism industry.
Aurelia Kretzers, the chair of the Airport Operators Committee, said airports “are a source of everlasting memories, and often the first impression of arriving visitors or the last impression of departing guests. The experience of the first welcome or last goodbye cannot be overstated.”
She said she participated in the groundbreaking ceremony “with great excitement” as she looks forward to a modern commuter terminal.
She thanked the CPA board and staff for their hard work.
Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider also commended CPA and its staff. The people of Tinian and Rota are also very pleased that finally “we begin to realize a state-of-the-art commuter terminal” on Saipan, he added.
For his part, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez said, “I said this many times and I continue to say it again: I love groundbreakings, probably more so than that I love ribbon-cuttings,” adding that they signify progress.
In order for the Commonwealth to expand its economy, “we need to have our seaports and airports…upgraded,” he said as he also congratulated the CPA board, the staff, the project contractor and other stakeholders.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, third right, Commonwealth Ports Authority Chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds, sixth left, Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, center, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, second right, and Sen. Karl King Nabors, right, use shovels during the groundbreaking ceremony for the commuter terminal construction project at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport on Monday. Also in photo are Rep. Denita Yangetmai, CPA board vice chairman Roman Tudela, board members Pete P. Reyes and Joseph Diaz.
