In an interview yesterday, Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, said the problems that Precinct 2 residents have been enduring for years prompted him to devote time to find funding for infrastructure projects.
“I conducted a research and successfully found out that there’s $238,726 in developers tax fund that can be tapped,” Demapan said.
Last March, he pre-filed House Local Bill 17-11 to appropriate the amount for the improvement of roads in Precinct 2.
The condition of Haiguas Road in Chalan Kanoa continues to be a challenge for residents and students especially during rainy days, he said.
Demapan wants to use the entire fund to complete the paving of Haiguas Road and the Tekken pedestrian lane as well as to construct more sidewalks.
During the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation session on Tuesday, Precinct 3 Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan, introduced a floor amendment to spread out the funding to all the five precincts which will get $47,745 each.
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp., according to Yumul, needs funding for the Obyan Power Distribution Project in Precinct 1, which also has roads in need of improvement.
Precinct 3, he added, needs funding for the improvement of the road and drainage leading to Oleai Elementary School.
The amendment was unanimously passed.
Demapan noted that the lawmakers of Precincts 4 and 5 failed to explain why they needed a share of the funding.
So he introduced another floor amendment taking the share of Precincts 4 and 5 to increase the allotment for Precinct 2 to $143,235.
Demapan’s amendment was passed by an 8 to 5 vote.
Those who voted in favor besides Demapan and Yumul were House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan; Delegation Chairman Ray A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan; Reps. Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, R-Saipan; Joseph M. Palacios, R-Saipan; Raymond D. Palacios, Covenant-Saipan; and Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan.
Those who voted no were Reps. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan; Edmund S. Villagomez, Covenant-Saipan; House Floor Leader George N. Camacho, Ind.-Saipan; Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan; and Rep. Francisco De la Cruz, R-Saipan.
Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan; Sen. Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan; and Rep. Antonio P. Sablan, R-Saipan abstained.
Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan; Sen. Luis P. Crisostimo, Ind.-Saipan; Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan; Reps. Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan; and Eliceo D. Cabrera, R-Saipan were absent.
Demapan said if only the Precinct 4 and 5 lawmakers explained how they would use the money he would have been more than happy to divide the fund equally.
He noted that the original purpose of the bill was for Precinct 2 only.
