In collaboration with the Public School System, he said he will provide adults with the opportunity to finish high school through the General Educational Development program.
He said it is also important to give the youth an opportunity to pursue their education as we “need educated people” to stimulate the economy.
As a former Board of Education chairman and Parent-Teacher Association president, Benavente said he is concerned about the education of the youth.
He is for more after-school sports and development programs for the youth so they will not be idle.
According to Benavente, he will pursue the animal shelter project which, he added, should be implemented gradually depending on the availability of funds.
“I don’t think [we] need $200,000 to build the facility — we can do it small-scale first.”
He also believes that traveling abroad should not be prioritized when Saipan is still facing an economic crisis.
“To continue traveling abroad and using a lot of money for travel when we know there are other more critical issues surrounding the island that need to be addressed as a mayor — I don’t think it is proper,” he said
Benavente said he will tap federal funds to provide basic services to the island, including infrastructure projects.
Among his priorities are road projects in Kagman 3 and 4.
