THE House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communications on Friday approved a recommendation to confirm the governor’s renomination of Ramon S. Basa and Oscar Patrick Quitugua to the Commonwealth Public Utilities Commission.
Chaired by Rep. Richard Lizama, the committee’s other members present in the meeting were vice chair Donald Manglona, Reps. Vicente Camacho, Joel Camacho and Corina Magofna.
Basa was also present in the meeting. He was accompanied by TJ Manglona who testified on behalf of the governor’s office in support of the renomination. Quitugua was not present.
Noting that CPUC has been “dormant for some time” the committee vice chair, Rep. Donald Manglona, asked Basa about his plan should he be confirmed.
Basa said he would like to see CPUC organized as soon as possible. He said the commission has been “on a break for quite a while,” but its work is critical. One of its tasks is to ensure that when the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. proposes to increase its rates, CPUC will review it to make sure the proposed rate increase is just and reasonable “especially at this time of economic hardships when our people are suffering, and inflation is a real thing.”
Basa said he would also like the CNMI to “get the things that we need to remove fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy.”
All the committee members expressed their support for Basa’s confirmation.
Rep. Corina Magofna said, “Based on your experience, I believe that you would be an excellent asset to CPUC. I look forward to your confirmation.”
Rep. Vicente Camacho said, “I support his nomination.”
Rep. Joel Camacho said he likes Basa’s plan regarding “decarbonization.” He is also glad to know that CPUC will reorganize “so it can oversee the rates that CUC will change every time we have a fuel price hike. I also support your renomination.”
For his part, the committee chair, Rep. Richard Lizama, said he knew Basa really well. “He is very active member of the community.”
He said he appreciates that the governor renominated Basa so “now we can move forward to have an active CPUC.”
TJ Manglona informed the committee that Basa is a highly experienced individual with decades of experience in public service. Basa has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Guam. He served as a member of the 17th House, and has also worked in different agencies, such as the Office of Grants Management and the Department of Finance.
He said the governor has full trust and confidence in Basa to continue to serve on the utilities commission.
As for the other nominee, Oscar Patrick Quitugua, he is also a highly experienced individual with decades of experience in public service, TJ Manglona said.
Quitugua graduated from San Jose University with a master’s degree in school administration and supervision. He served as an educator in Rota for 30 years until he retired as principal of Rota High School in 1995. He has also served on numerous government boards including the Commonwealth Development Authority.
Although Quitugua was not present, Rep. Donald Manglona moved to approve his renomination.
The committee also unanimously approved Quitugua’s renomination.
Richard Lizama
