By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE House of Representatives has approved nearly $1 million in tobacco settlement funds for the Marianas Visitor Authority.
The bill was authored by House Floor Leader Marissa Flores and co-sponsored by Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Vice Speaker Diego Vincent Camacho, and Reps. Blas Jonathan Attao, John Paul P. Sablan, Ralph N. Yumul, Thomas John Manglona, Elias Rangamar, Vincent Aldan, Danny I. Aquino, Roman Benavente, Angelo Camacho, Joel Camacho, Malcolm Omar, Joseph Flores, Raymond Palacios, and Patrick San Nicolas.
House Bill 24-96 proposes to appropriate $960,235 in tobacco settlement funds identified by Gov. David M. Apatang as additional money available for appropriation.
H.B. 24-96 seeks to allot the funds specifically for MVA’s tourism recovery initiatives.
Acknowledging that tourism “is the cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s private-sector economy and remains directly dependent on sustained air access, destination competitiveness, and visitor demand,” the bill’s authors explained that uninterrupted and reliable air service is the most critical determinant of tourism performance in the CNMI.
Strategic airline incentive support, cooperative marketing programs, and sustained destination branding are necessary to retain existing service, stabilize frequencies, encourage seasonal and future expansion, and signal to airline partners that the CNMI is committed to protecting and rebuilding its airlift in a highly competitive regional environment, the lawmakers said.
Responding to these conditions, the measure seeks to appropriate nearly $1 million in tobacco settlement funds, according to the bill’s sponsors.
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.
