Independent gubernatorial candidate Lawrence Camacho and his running mate Edith Deleon Guerrero visited Tinian on July 1 to provide direct relief to residents still recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku and now bracing for another possible super typhoon.
Using $2,500 from a campaign donation — money the candidates said they chose to give back to the community dollar for dollar — the pair provided $25 in fuel to 100 vehicles. Drivers were given the option to use the amount for gasoline or a gas canister.
The event came as Tinian residents continue to face gas shortages, high prices, and increased fuel needs tied to generator use, a burden that has grown heavier as families prepare for what could be the island’s second major typhoon threat in three months.
“This trip was eye-opening,” Camacho said. “Tinian is still carrying the weight of Sinlaku, and now families are dealing with gas shortages, paying more for the fuel they can get, and running generators just to get through the day, all while preparing for another storm. Giving this money back to the community wasn’t a hard decision — it was the only decision.”
Deleon Guerrero echoed that sentiment, noting that the visit reinforced the urgency of addressing Tinian’s infrastructure gaps. “Standing on Tinian and seeing the gas shortages firsthand, talking to people who are paying more for what fuel is available and relying on generators just to keep the lights on, changes how you understand the scale of what’s needed on Tinian.”
While on the island, Camacho and Deleon Guerrero also met with Tinian leadership to discuss improving the island’s electrical infrastructure, a priority both candidates identified as central to storm resilience going forward. Strengthening the power grid, they said, is essential not only for recovery from Sinlaku but for reducing the impact of future storms on a system that remains vulnerable.
The gas distribution effort was organized by Camacho and Deleon Guerrero, continuing the campaign’s ongoing Sinlaku recovery efforts as the CNMI enters what forecasters have projected to be an active 2026 storm season.
