IN a follow-up hearing last week, the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations heard updates from Department of Public Lands Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo regarding a number of recommendations, issues, and concerns raised during previous public hearings conducted on Rota, Saipan, and Tinian.
Department of Public Lands Secretary Marianne Concepcion-Teregeyo is sworn in during a Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations follow-up hearing last week.
Photo by K-Andrea Evarose S. Limol
Present among the committee members were committee chair Sen. Francisco Cruz, vice chair Sen. Francisco Borja, Senate Vice President Jude Hofschneider, Sen. Justo Quitugua, and Sen. Vinnie Sablan.
With the secretary were DPL Director of Compliance Greg Deleon Guerrero, Director of Homestead Irene Torres, and Director of Real Estate Bonnie Royal.
Concepcion-Teregeyo said after the last hearing was held on April 28, 2019 that her department submitted supporting documents to the Senate pertaining to issues that were raised in the hearings.
These issues include a request by a person of Northern Marianas descent for land compensation.
In this particular case, Concepcion-Teregeyo said a land exchange of anything over 700 square meters is prohibited.
She said she has previously shared this information with members of the committee in an earlier discussion.
“Every time that question [was asked], that was always the same response,” she added.
House Resolution 20-26 was also mentioned. It was introduced in 2018 by former Rep. Angel Demapan to support the change of the designation in the use of public domain lands to allow for the construction, development and maintenance of a Palauan “abai” on Navy Hill.
Concepcion-Teregeyo said documentation was provided for the proposed “abai.”
She added that Attorney General Edward Manibusan agreed to the issuance of the permit to the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
Also discussed was the issue of private use of public land within 150 feet of the high watermark.
Concepcion-Teregeyo said, “DPL has pleaded to the Legislature, to the administration, and to the attorney general to allow us to charge businesses that are currently enjoying public land without any payment because the constitution prohibits any private use of [public lands within] 150 feet of the high watermark [of a sandy beach].”
She said DPL is hoping that lawmakers will address the issue.
