Downed streetlights and trees block two northbound lanes of Marine Corps Drive in Hagåtña after Typhoon Mawar, on Thursday, May 26, 2023.
IN the aftermath of super typhoons Soudelor, Mangkhut and Yutu, which hit the CNMI in 2015 and 2018, the government of Guam and its people extended their help to the Northern Marianas.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios on Thursday said he and the people of CNMI will never forget that. Now that Guam is in the same predicament following Super Typhoon Mawar, the governor said, it’s the Commonwealth’s turn to help its island neighbor.
“It is important that we reciprocate,” the governor told reporters during a press briefing at the Emergency Operations Center on Thursday.
“We sympathize with our brothers and sisters on Guam,” Palacios said, adding that he had just talked to Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, “and absolutely offered our help, in whatever way we can.”
Guam’s government is now assessing the damage left behind by Super Typhoon Mawar, he added.
The governor said he also had a conversation with Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board member Simon Sanchez of Guam who briefed him on how the CNMI can help the island.
Guam was having problems with its power and water systems, and the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport’s terminal was also flooded.
“I don’t want to make any assumptions as to what their needs are, but I offered our help,” Palacios said.
He said Guam Power Authority has all the equipment it needs, “so most likely they may only need personnel such as linemen that the Commonwealth can send to Guam to assist in recovery.”
Palacios said there are CNMI residents who now live on Guam, but the help the Commonwealth will provide is for everybody on Guam.
“Whatever assistance we’re providing will be from the people of the Commonwealth to the people of Guam,” he said. “Let’s keep them in our prayers, the people on Guam and Rota.”
