By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
HOUSE Ways and Means Committee Chairman John Paul Sablan is considering the possibility of deliberating the fiscal year 2027 budget jointly with his Senate counterparts through a bicameral committee.
In an interview, Sablan, who also chairs the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, said that if members of the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee agree, it would not be the first time the Legislature has addressed Gov. David M. Apatang’s FY 2027 budget submission through a bicameral process.
He said the current budget was the product of joint deliberations by the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee.
“Because of these very challenging times, as economic activity is not doing well with regard to tourism and businesses, we find it fitting that tackling the FY 2027 budget jointly through committees from the House and Senate would be a very noble undertaking,” Sablan said.
He said a bicameral budget committee would scrutinize all government revenue sources and projections.
“We must be mindful that whatever we project, we look at it very carefully to come up with realistic projections,” Sablan said.
He said his fellow committee members and their Senate counterparts would ensure that, in drafting the budget bill, “whatever product we decide on and vote for would be the final budget package, with no amendments after amendments from either the House or Senate.”
He said lawmakers do not want to enact a budget law that would require revisions in the third or fourth quarter of the fiscal year to reduce appropriations for certain departments and agencies.
That is why working in a bicameral manner, as they did for the current budget, promotes a strong working relationship between the House and Senate, particularly when identifying priorities, Sablan said.
Speaking of priorities, he said, “We need to find ways to help revive the economy, and one way is to look at how we promote the CNMI as a destination through the Marianas Visitors Authority.”
He said it is necessary for the Legislature to adequately fund MVA to help revive the tourism industry by attracting more airlines.
Sablan also said it is important to diversify the economy.
“We know that tourism has always been our bread and butter, but we should also think about other industries by enticing manufacturers to invest in the islands, for example,” he 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.
