The merger will result in better services to the commonwealth, he added.
Because the two agencies will share resources, he said, EMO will save half of its $400,000 budget for fiscal year 2012. Homeland Security is federally funded.
Although EMO and the Homeland Security office have the same goal, Omar said the two agencies have different sets of priorities.
The merger, he said, will “integrate” these goals.
Under the CNMI’s emergency management system, the EMO director serves as the state coordinator officer while the governor can appoint his “authorized representative” who is currently Office of Management and Budget Executive Director Vicky Villagomez.
The state coordinator officer implements policy and programs formulated by the governor’s authorized representative in handling disaster and emergency situations.
The Homeland Security office takes care of disaster preparedness measures while EMO handles the quick response tasks.
Once the merger takes effect, CNMI-Homeland Security training coordinator Marvin Seman will be the authorized representative and state coordinator officer. Omar will be his deputy.
Omar said it is going to be better that way.
