By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Commonwealth Ports Authority has not finalized a lease agreement with the United States Air Force for plans to build concrete pads at Rota’s airport runway for emergency aircraft stops, according to Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog.
Hocog said the U.S. Air Force’s proposal — which includes six warehouses and eight concrete pads to support a Mobile Aircraft Arresting System or MAAS — remains under review, as the CPA board has yet to officially approve a lease for the project.
“As far as I know, it’s still with CPA, and the board has not formally or officially approved the lease,” Hocog said. “The current plan still involves storage containers and the Mobile Aircraft Arresting System modifications that would be used for emergency landings.”
Hocog said her discussions to date have been limited to environmental officials and biologists preparing an environmental assessment for the project area. She emphasized that Rota residents are protective of the island’s natural environment and cautious about any expansion of a military presence.
“In Rota, we’ve really been untouched in terms of military buildup or footprint,” she said. “Our people are very cautious. We’re used to the calm environment we’ve been living in, and any disruption raises concerns.”
The mayor said the municipality wants clarity on the project’s footprint, the impact of the proposed storage containers, and how lease revenue would be used. She said she supports improvements that directly benefit airport operations and the visitor experience, noting that investors frequently cite limited air access as a barrier to economic growth.
“Every time I meet investors, they talk about their love for Rota,” Hocog said. “But how can they invest if we can’t bring people in? Our population alone is not enough to stimulate the economy. We need to be able to bring in people and goods.”
Hocog said she is open to the project only if it remains within the airport area and contributes to meaningful facility upgrades. She pointed to CPA’s plans for awning and landing-area improvements as examples of needed enhancements.
“The airport is the first and last place visitors see,” she said. “We want them to have great things to say.”
Details of the proposed lease, including its term and payment amount, have not been disclosed to the municipality, Hocog said, adding that CPA and the military are still negotiating financial terms.
“We don’t know yet,” she said. “They shared their intent, but discussions about funding are between CPA and the military.”
Hocog said she was told construction costs may be around $15 million, though lease payments remain under negotiation.
“We always advocate for the best interests of our people,” she said. “We want to benefit from this, including local employment opportunities.”
She said that is why she remains open to the proposal.
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.
