Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, who chairs the committee, said they reviewed all CIP funding and corresponding projects for Rota last week, checked the Tinian CIP’s last Wednesday morning and those of Saipan in the afternoon.
He said they are looking into the possibility of reprogramming the unspent monies for urgently needed projects, one of which is the purchase of a CT scan machine for the Commonwealth Health Center.
Torres, R-Saipan, said they need some $600,000 for the CT scan.
Yesterday, his committee and the CIP office went through the list of pending CIP’s that go back all the way to 2004. They then listed the priority projects that need funding.
“As of this point we can’t appropriate if we don’t know how much is available. We sat down and review the other priorities besides the CT scan,” Torres said.
For Tinian, Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, said there’s a total of $8.6 million that they hope they can reprogram for the island’s critical needs like airport improvement.
Hofschneider, R-Tinian, said there is still $4 million obligated but unspent funds for seaport and airport projects. There is also over $3 million originally allotted for the Tinian landfill.
An additional $1.3 million was allotted for the same project but it was “redirected” last year to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
Hofschneider said Assistant Interior Secretary Tony Babauta assured them last year that Tinian would have the money back in six months.
The six-month period, Hofschneider said, ends next week, meaning the money can be available again for them.
He said it is important to take a look at all the unspent CIP funds since the governor has the authority to reprogram them.
