By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho is calling on the business community, government agencies, quarry operators, and nonprofit organizations to help repair deteriorating secondary roads connecting Kagman to Laulau Bay, a popular tourist diving area.
He said ongoing economic challenges have made it increasingly difficult to secure funding for the needed roadwork. The affected routes are heavily used by residents and visitors and are considered essential for daily transportation, public safety, and access to recreational and tourist areas.
“These secondary roads are vital for our people,” Camacho said. “Their repair is not only a matter of convenience but also of public safety and community well‑being.”
A staffer from the mayor’s office told Marianas Variety that they received four calls Wednesday morning from residents reporting worsening road conditions and requesting assistance.
Camacho emphasized that maintaining safe public roads is a shared responsibility and urged the community to work together to address the deteriorating conditions. “By working together, we can ensure these roads remain passable, safe, and supportive of local economic activity,” he said.
DPL restrictions
In an interview Wednesday, Camacho said he has met several times with Department of Public Lands Secretary Sixto Igisomar to request flexibility in quarry material limits needed for road repairs. According to the mayor, Igisomar acknowledged the need but said existing contracts with quarry operators restrict the department’s ability to act.
“Secretary Igisomar admitted to me, ‘Mayor, I’m with you. I see where you’re coming from,’ but his hands are tied because the contract executed with the quarry operators has not yet expired,” Camacho said.
The mayor said he has asked the Office of the Attorney General to join discussions with DPL to explore whether the government can intervene given the current road conditions.
“I’m inviting the attorney general to sit down with Secretary Igisomar to see how we can address the contract because of the situation we are seeing now,” he said. “As mayor, I’m not going to wait until something serious happens on that defective road.”
Camacho argued that DPL regulations limiting coral extraction — often capped at 100 to 200 cubic yards per quarry per year — are outdated and insufficient for current needs.
“Regulations can be amended,” Camacho said. “As long as the regulation is not written in stone, it can be amended.”
He noted that after using the annual allotment of coral to repair the long stretch of road leading to Laulau Bay, heavy rains washed out the material within weeks. Under current rules, he cannot request additional coral until the next calendar year.
“So the roads are going to continue to become hazardous and unsafe for motorists,” he said.
Appeal to private sector and nonprofits
With restrictions on public land resources still in place, Camacho is turning to private companies and nonprofit groups for help.
“I’m appealing to the business community and nonprofit groups to please help the mayor chip in with corals so we can repair the secondary roads,” he said. “The road in the Laulau area is terrible. As a former police officer, safety comes first. Any road open to the public must be maintained.”
Camacho warned that unsafe road conditions could expose the government to liability if motorists are injured.
“I’m more toward being proactive, not reactive,” he said.
The mayor’s office expressed gratitude to any organization willing to contribute materials, equipment, manpower, or technical support.
“Every act of support — whether through materials, equipment, or labor — will make a meaningful difference in improving the quality of life for the people of Saipan,” Camacho said.
He added that the mayor’s office is still awaiting further action from the attorney general and DPL.
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.
