By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang has approved three local bills appropriating emergency funding for Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Authored by Rep. Blas Jonathan Attao and introduced by members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation as a committee of the whole, House Local Bill 24-55 is now Saipan Local Law 24-26.
It appropriates $500,000 in poker fee collections to support recovery efforts in Saipan and the Northern Islands following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
The funding is allocated as follows:
• $100,000 for the Saipan Mayor’s Office for disaster recovery due to extraordinary circumstances caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku;
• $50,000 for the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office for disaster recovery;
• $350,000 for the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation for disaster recovery efforts, to be used for, but not limited to, food distribution across the CNMI, with priority given to the Third Senatorial District.
Authored by Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, House Local Bill 24-56 is now Tinian Local Law 24-11. It appropriates $156,000 in poker fee collections for Tinian “to respond to critical emergency situations and urgent recovery initiatives in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.”
Authored by Rep. Julie Marie Ogo, House Local Bill 24-57 is now Rota Local Law 24-12. It reappropriates a total of $80,000 in poker fee collections for Rota for the same purpose. Of that amount, $60,000 was originally allocated for medical subsistence and municipal scholarship assistance, while $20,000 was originally designated for the Rota Aging Program and Flame Tree Arts Festival.
The funding is allocated as follows:
• $70,000 for the Rota Mayor’s Office for operations and personnel to respond to critical emergency situations and urgent recovery efforts following Super Typhoon Sinlaku;
• $5,000 for Luta Cares for relief efforts on Rota;
• $5,000 for the Micronesia Climate Change Alliance.
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.
