VISITING South Pacific Council Director-General Lourdes Pangelinan says the organization is willing to provide more technical funding and assistance in developing the CNMI’s current programs on agriculture, fisheries, health, women and youth.
“Part of my job is to find out particularly with the change of the administration, what are the priorities of the new administration in the areas they like to get greater assistance from (the South Pacific Council),” Pangelinan told the Variety yesterday.
“We would like also to assist the commonwealth in exploring more funding, not necessarily federal support,” she added.
Based in New Caledonia, SPC has 22 member nations. The organization’s various programs in the Pacific are supported by the World Health Organization, UNESCO and Pacific and European countries.
Pangelinan, who is from Guam, met with Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday afternoon.
“We are happy to work with her. We are looking forward to see the success that the CNMI government will gain in working with SPC,” Press Secretary Cecile T. Celes said.
Pangelinan said the Northern Marianas has been an active member of SPC during the past 55 years.
“The Northern Marianas has always been an extremely important member of the South Pacific Council,” Pangelinan said.
Currently, SPC is working to secure more funding from the United Kingdom to assist several programs in the Pacific region. Australia and Taiwan are also among SPC’s biggest contributors.
