Rep. Sylvestre I. Iguel, Covenant-Saipan, is one of only four House lawmakers who volunteered for a paycut.
The others are Reps. Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan, Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, and Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan.
Iguel said they have the duty to serve as role models to their constituents.
“I don’t want to sound a hypocrite but for us to call for salary cut without doing the same is a big joke,” he told the Variety.
The salaries of the governor, the lt. governor, lawmakers, justices and judges are constitutionally protected.
Three legislative initiatives are currently pending in the House of Representatives seeking to amend the CNMI Constitution so that these officials’ salaries could be reduced during times of austerity.
Iguel said there is a need to seriously look into the current government workforce’s composition to reduce personnel expenses.
He said the Legislature awaits the desk audit from the Office of Public Auditor to see where the workforce could be streamlined.
