What would you do if you have the authority to direct or influence the direction of CNMI’s only community college?
Fermin Atalig, chairman of Northern Marianas College board of regents, believes that NMC can go beyond its priority academic programs.
Aside from focusing on its programs, he said, NMC can spearhead a project that would offer jobs to people, thus enhancing economic activities in the CNMI.
Atalig is pushing strongly for the development of the CNMI’s vast marine resources.
“We are surrounded by waters, by ocean. Isn’t it just logical that we start directing our efforts toward the development of our marine resources?” he said in an interview.
Atalig has asked the NMC’s instruction office to start working on getting funds for the development of local marine resources.
He said NMC can commission marine scientists to conduct various studies related to investment potentials of the CNMI waters.
Atalig sees greater opportunities in the fishing industry, compared to agriculture.
“I think we should focus on fishing. You see, as more people come to the CNMI, the land will get smaller. It would be silly for us to put our money to something that’s getting smaller. Now, the ocean is there, we just need to manage it well,” he said.
He said CNMI should not only focus on tuna fishing but also look into clam, seaweed and oyster raising.
“We have a long lagoon, about nine miles of it from San Antonio to Tanapag. We can use this productively. When we do this, we can even export to Japan and other areas,” he said.
CNMI currently imports most of its marine products from Asian countries.
Atalig expressed confidence that when the local people see the profitability of the marine business, “they would jump in.”
“Why should we keep on depending on the government when we can initiate projects that would boost the economy?” he said.
