GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres prefers the issuance of stimulus cards to a fuel voucher program as proposed by a Senate joint resolution.
Introduced by Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, S.J.R. 22-8 is requesting the governor and Secretary of Finance David DLG Atalig to provide a federally funded $500 fuel voucher to each eligible individual.
But Torres said federally funded stimulus cards for eligible CNMI taxpayers can perform the same task.
“I believe the stimulus card is good for everybody…. If you have a car, I understand that you need gas and…stimulus cards can also [be utilized] for gas,” among other basic commodities such as food, he said.
He said he and Secretary Atalig are also looking into another federally funded local stimulus program.
“We’re trying to close the gap on some of the challenges that we had on the first [round], Torres said. “It will be a stimulus program similar to what we did the first time, where everyone benefits from it and you can utilize it through any vendor that has a merchant number registered in the CNMI,” the governor said.
These “gaps” included confusion among community members regarding their eligibility.
“A lot of folks didn’t understand that even if you’re not working, as long as you file your taxes, you’re able to receive your stimulus,” the governor said. “So…we will educate our community [about it, as well as] some of the technical challenges that we’ve had, like mailing [or address issues]…. We are closing some of the gaps.”
The governor said those who were eligible for the first round of stimulus may also be eligible for the next round.
