REPRESENTATIVE Danny I. Aquino on Thursday pre-filed House Bill 24-64, proposing to reduce government costs by selling decommissioned government vehicles.
To be known as the CNMI Vehicle Buy-Back and Modernization Program, the bill mandates that aging vehicles be decommissioned and offered to the public through transparent auctions. This will allow the government to recover vehicle value that would otherwise be lost due to high maintenance costs.
“This will provide residents and businesses access to affordable vehicles, foster a more active secondary market, and ensure that every stage of the replacement cycle contributes to modernization rather than waste,” Aquino said.
Citing many government vehicles that are seven years or older and have become a recurring drain on limited public funds, Aquino stressed the need for “a systemic solution, rather than piecemeal replacement, to address this persistent burden.”
He added that leveraging a structured buy-back and auction process offers a strategic pathway to convert this liability into an asset.
H.B. 24-64, which Aquino will introduce in the next House session, proposes to establish the Vehicle Buy-Back and Modernization Program, to be administered by the secretary of Finance and the director of the Procurement and Supply Division.
Under the program, aging government vehicles, regardless of condition, will be offered at a public auction before being surveyed out, scrapped, or discarded. Vehicles will be sold “as-is, where-is” at least once per fiscal year to bidders including private citizens, residents, licensed businesses, and government employees. Auctions will be publicly advertised at least 30 days in advance via print, radio, and government platforms.
The Department of Finance will ensure all bids are conducted transparently and competitively, in accordance with CNMI procurement and surplus disposal policies. Purchasers are solely responsible for the transport, registration, and legal operation or use of any vehicles or parts acquired through the program.
