By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE newly formed Fiscal Reform Committee will convene in the governor’s conference room today to discuss, among other things, Gov. David M. Apatang’s request for an emergency budget to allocate $3.9 million in local funds for the Nutrition Assistance Program.
Senate President Karl King-Nabors and Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez will represent the Legislature on the committee.
In the committee’s initial meeting today, House Ways and Means Committee Chair John Paul Sablan will represent the House on behalf of the speaker, who will be attending the 42nd Association of Pacific Island Legislatures.
In an interview, Sablan said he will be the one to introduce the $3.9 million emergency budget bill, which will cover the federally funded food stamp program for 5,560 households, involving 14,000 individuals in the CNMI.
“If there’s anything that needs to change in the budget, I will be the one to author it,” Sablan said.
“The newly created Fiscal Reform Committee will also have to discuss that today,” he added.
The governor formed the committee on Thursday, the same day the CNMI government received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food & Nutrition Services about the suspension of the NAP program for November due to ongoing federal government shutdown. This means recipients will not receive assistance despite the ongoing issuance of Electronic Benefit Transfer cards.
In his memorandum, Apatang said the committee is tasked with reviewing current economic planning reports, evaluating recommendations, and determining the most viable implementation strategies across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.
He said the committee will play a central role in evaluating the fiscal impact of proposed reforms, prioritizing recommendations based on feasibility, urgency, and alignment with federal funding criteria, and ensuring that CNMI economic planning is sustainable and responsive to current fiscal realities.
On Friday, the governor asked the speaker and the Senate president to support the emergency budget bill to maintain food assistance for November. He noted that the expenditure may be fully reimbursable once the federal budget is enacted by the U.S. Congress, which means the net impact on the general fund would be zero. Any reimbursed funds could then be redirected to other priorities.
Other members of the Fiscal Reform Committee include:
– Tracy B. Norita, Finance secretary.
– Vicky Villagomez, special assistant for management and budget.
– Epiphanio Cabrera, Office of Grant Management and State Clearinghouse administrator.
– Jamika Taijeron, Marianas Visitors Authority managing director.
– Dave Attao, Northern Marianas College chief financial officer.
– Perlie Santos, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. chief financial officer.
– Richard Villagomez, Commonwealth Economic Development Authority economic development manager.
– Allen Perez, Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board chair.
– Esther Ada, Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director.
– Eric Magofna, Public School System assistant commissioner.
– Dean Manglona, Rota Mayor’s Office chief of staff.
– Mike Sablan and Clemente Bermudes Jr., Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors.
– Joe Guerrero, Saipan Chamber of Commerce president.
“The committee’s work is critical to ensure that emergency measures are implemented responsibly and that federal compliance requirements are met,” the governor said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.