By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation on Wednesday unanimously passed two spending measures appropriating developers’ infrastructure tax and gambling revenues for the Department of Public Works and various projects and services on Saipan.
All delegation members present voted to pass House Local Bill 24-59 and House Local Bill 24-60. Both measures now go to the governor for consideration.
Authored by SNILD Chairman John Paul P. Sablan, H.L.B. 24-59 sought to appropriate a total of $95,644 in gambling revenues and $5,000 in developers’ infrastructure tax — for a total of $100,644 — to the Department of Public Works for drainage improvement projects in Precinct 2.
Authored by Rep. Ralph N. Yumul, H.L.B. 24-60 sought to allocate $100,000 in annual amusement machine license fee collections for SNILD. Prior to the roll call vote, Yumul offered a substitute amendment redirecting the funds as follows:
• $35,000 for the Saipan Mayor’s Office for Liberation activities
• $20,000 for the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office
• $15,000 for the CNMI Veterans Affairs Office
• $15,000 for Northern Marianas Athletics
The delegation unanimously approved the amendment before voting on the revised version of H.L.B. 24-60.
Saipan Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho, who was in the gallery during the session, expressed support for any local appropriations that would fund the upcoming 80th Liberation Festival leading to the July 4, 2026 celebration, which coincides with the America 250 commemoration.
He said in an interview that his office and the Liberation Committee plan to combine the celebration with the 50th anniversary of the Covenant signing and reduce the Liberation Festival to two days leading up to the Fourth of July.
The mayor said that due to the economic impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, available funding for the celebration is limited, which is why he was awaiting the delegation’s appropriation.
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.
