David M. Apatang
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang met on Tuesday with Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, proposing the formation of a joint task force to work with airlines flying to Guam to include the CNMI on their routes.
Apatang and other CNMI administration officials were on Guam last week to attend the two-day Guam Defense Forum 2025, a joint effort to bring together defense leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders from across the Indo-Pacific to discuss regional security, civil-military collaboration, and community engagement. The forum was held on Wednesday and Thursday at Dusit Thani Guam Resort in Tumon.
The day before the forum, Apatang met with Guerrero, Tenorio, and their respective chiefs of staff to discuss forming a joint Marianas task force to collaborate with airline companies on their flight routes. The plan is for airlines to continue on to the CNMI after dropping off passengers on Guam.
The task force will involve interagency partnerships among the Marianas Visitors Authority, Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam International Airport Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Guam Economic Development Authority and Commonwealth Economic Development Authority.
