In a letter to Rep. Ray N. Yumul, R-Saipan,, he is asking the Legislature to amend the Public Law 13-40 by replacing the word “authorize” to “mandate.”
“Upon a quick review of the law, it is quite apparent that P.L. 13-40 only ‘authorized’ the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to set agricultural water usage rates for commercial farmers and commercial ranchers at the rate of 25 percent per one thousand U.S. gallons of water in areas where 24-hour water is available and a flat rate of $25 per month in areas where 24-hour water is not available,” he said.
CUC was further authorized to promulgate rules and regulation as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the law.
Camacho, who is also president of the Sabalu Farmers Market Association, has three concerns about P.L. 13-40.
First, he said, there is still no appropriation to enable CUC to implement the law that was envisioned to help farmers and ranchers.
Second, the law’s provisions authorized CUC to exercise its discretion to either implement or not to implement it.
Third, the promulgation of the law through rules and regulations was itself made discretionary not mandatory.
Camacho reminded the Legislature about the municipal council’s request for legislative intervention to require CUC to lowers the water rates for local farmers and ranchers.
He said P.L. 13-40 has not been implemented since Dec. 2002 when it was signed into law.
Camacho said lawmakers should also consider imposing an inspection fee on imported produce and goods, including those from the U.S.
“This is a revenue generating approach, about which the council is willing to be part of the discussion,” he told Yumul.
