THE government is overseeing the construction of $260 million worth of projects.
Acting Public Works Secretary John S. Reyes said the projects “include the most expensive ones so far undertaken by the CNMI government.”
He added, “This year is going to be very busy for us as we implement a lot of projects. It’s a blessing that this new administration (is handling) these projects and hopefully there’s not going to be any protests from now on.”
Reyes said the projects that were recently approved included the $17 million adult prison facility in Susupe, the $10 million Marpi landfill and the $5 million Department of Public Health building expansion project.
The $4.192 million garbage transfer station and recycling facility in Lower Base will be up for completion in the next few months.
“The biggest projects are out already,” Reyes added.
Other ongoing government projects include the construction and renovation of public buildings and social halls, airport expansion projects, widening and expansion of roads, installation of traffic lights, among others.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta, in a separate interview, said the closure of the Puerto Rico dumpsite “is probably the most difficult of all current projects, but this administration will make it finally happen.”
“It has taken five governors and several Legislatures, and I certainly don’t want to be in an administration that was not able to close the Puerto Rico dump,” said Babauta during the groundbreaking ceremony for the $17 million prison project on Friday. (See related story on this page)
Lt. Gov. Diego Benavente, in a separate interview, expressed optimism that the Puerto Rico dumpsite will be closed by the end of 2002.
“We are pushing so hard to close Puerto Rico dump by the end of the year because we are doing everything within our ability to open the Marpi landfill and get it working. Once we do that, it means we close Puerto Rico dump,” said Benavente.
He added, “The most important thing right now for this administration is to stop the environmental hazard that Puerto Rico dump represents, and I feel good and very optimistic that we will stop that.”
Benavente, the chairman of the governor’s Solid Waste Task Force, said the administration is also prioritizing the identification of funds for the operation and post-closure of the Marpi landfill project so that it will be able to secure a permit from the Division of Environmental Quality.
The Department of Public Works, however, said several road construction and expansion projects had been delayed by land exchange and compensation issues.
According to Reyes, the government does not have enough funds for land compensation payments and the Marianas Public Lands Authority is “reluctant” to sign memorandum of understanding with private landowners for the land exchange.
