By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Commonwealth Economic Incentive Authority board on Monday voted to adopt its draft regulations for publication in the Commonwealth Register, advancing the agency’s long‑delayed rule-making process.
The CEIA board — Chair Anthony C. Torres, Vice Chair Tina Azarvand, and members David Burger, Remedio C. Mafnas, Noel Calvo, and Mark Rabauliman — unanimously agreed to move forward with proposed regulations under Title 195‑10 and Title 195‑20, clearing the way for public notice and a 30‑day comment period.
Board members reviewed final edits to the draft rules, including revisions recommended by the Office of the Attorney General. Mark Rabauliman said the updated language reflects the AG’s feedback and incorporates additional adjustments made by the board’s committee.
“We’ve worked through the suggestions and made the changes needed,” he said.
Before the vote, members corrected a formatting issue in Title 195‑20, relocating a misplaced section regarding executive sessions. With that change, the board proceeded to adopt both titles for publication.
CEIA legal counsel Alison Nelson clarified that the board’s action approves the draft regulations for publication in the Commonwealth Register. Only the notice of proposed regulation must be translated into Chamorro and Carolinian before submission. Once published, the public will have 30 days to review and comment before the board votes again to adopt the regulations as final.
Nelson noted that translation may take several weeks, making it unlikely the regulations will appear in the March 15 register. They are now expected to be published in the April issue.
Background
The CEIA was originally established as the Commonwealth Free Trade Zone Authority under Public Law 12‑20 to promote and manage free trade zone development in the CNMI. However, the authority remained inactive for nearly two decades because no board was ever appointed.
In 2025, the Legislature enacted Public Law 24‑5, renaming the agency the Commonwealth Economic Incentive Authority to reflect a broader economic development mission and modernize the CNMI’s investment strategy. The renaming shifted the focus from free trade zone promotion to a wider economic-incentives framework aimed at attracting investment and diversifying the economy.
Gov. David M. Apatang appointed the first CEIA board members in August 2025, formally activating the authority for the first time since its creation.
The CEIA board is scheduled to meet again on March 19 at 10 a.m. to continue its regulatory work.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
