GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Monday issued Executive Order No. 2021-08 to renew the Finance secretary’s authority to reprogram or transfer funds from any department, agency, office, board, commission, corporation, instrumentality or other entity of any branch of government to meet the Covid-19 threat.
In his executive order, the governor said the pandemic has brought the CNMI tourism industry to a standstill, which has depressed economic activity and drastically reduced tax revenue.
“Such a reduction in revenue jeopardizes the government’s ability to meet the Covid-19 threat by limiting the government’s ability to utilize all necessary personnel, facilities and equipment due to lack of funds,” the E.O. stated.
It added that renewing the Finance secretary’s authority to access, reprogram or transfer funds in order to fund the “whole of government” approach to the prevention and mitigation of the Covid-19 threat “is a reasonably necessary response” in order to ensure that the government is able to meet the threat.
Under the extended executive order, all powers, duties and responsibilities embodied in that executive order are “hereby renewed and shall thus continue for an additional 30 days.”
This renewal takes effect immediately and will remain in effect for 30 days from the effective date of the executive order, which was on April 19, 2021.
All memoranda, directives, waivers of regulations, and other measures taken in accordance with original Executive Order 2020-05 shall remain in effect for 30 days from the date of the new executive order.
The governor issued the original EO 2020-05 on March 18, 2020.
