Rep. Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota and committee chairwoman, said they are supposed to hear the sentiments of the Tinian residents today.
The hearing for Rota was scheduled for Friday, Aug, 27.
“The dominant reason for the cancellation is unavailability of funds,” Santos said.
Depending upon the availability of funds, the committee will set another date for the hearings, she added.
A public hearing on House Legislative Initiative 17-3 was held on Saipan last month.
Section of Article 12 states that “The acquisition of permanent and long-term interests in real property within the commonwealth shall be restricted to persons of Northern Marianas descent.”
Introduced by Vice Speaker Felicidad T. Ogumoro, Covenant-Saipan, H.L.I. 17-3 will reduce the Chamorro or Carolinian blood requirement from 25 to 1 percent for a person to be considered of Northern Marianas descent.
Ogumoro said if the current 25 percent blood requirement of Article 12 remains unchanged, many members of the present generation will lose their right to own the lands that their parents or grandparents want them to inherit.
A legislative initiative is a proposal to amend the CNMI Constitution.
It must be passed by the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of each legislative house present and voting.
It will then be placed on the ballot and will be ratified if approved by a majority of the voters.
A legislative initiative doesn’t require the governor’s approval.
