Sixto Igisomar
“AS chairwoman of the 3rd senatorial municipal council leadership and member of the Governor’s Council tasked to advise the governor on government operations and local matters…concerning the relationship between the Commonwealth and its separate islands mandated in the Article VI, § 5 of the CNMI Constitution, we invite the support of your respective offices, and also in your role as President of the CNMI Senate and Chairman of the Senate EAGI to facilitate the hearing for and subsequent confirmation of Sixto Kaipat Igisomar on the appointment by Gov. Palacios & Lt. Gov. Apatang for Mr. Igisomar to fill the position of DPL Secretary vacated recently by former DPL Secretary Terry Santos,” stated Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Chairwoman Marian DLG Tudela in a recent letter to Senate President Dennis Mendiola and EAGI Chairman Francisco Cruz.
A swift confirmation of the nominee, continued Tudela, is in keeping with the expectation for elected and appointed officials to maintain currency with Article VII, § 701 of the Covenant in our concerted effort now more than ever “to achieve a progressively higher standard of living for the people of the Northern Marianas as part of the American economic community,” by working in unison to “develop the economic resources needed to meet the financial responsibilities of local self-government…for local government operations…for capital improvement programs and for economic development.”
Tudela said there are promising community projects involving public-private ventures that are intended to nurture and infuse value in as well as add value to the ambiance and quality of the municipality’s destination while promoting business, investment, leisure, adventure, rest and recreation, and health and wellbeing, activities resulting in multiplier benefits to Saipan residents, visitors, and the Commonwealth.
Importantly, Tudela said, these community development projects are especially significant as they originate from within and are locally based to empower the local community in contributing to making things happen, and in that regards contribute to a progressively higher standard of living for the people intended in our Constitution and Covenant, by forging partnerships with the government, the private sector and non-government segments of the community as envisioned, for example, in the Mt. Tapochao Private-Public Partnership Destination Enhancement project.
Tudela said the Mt. Tapochao project could not have come at a better time, appearing on the heels of a recent headline news, entitled, “HANMI occupancy at 38% in February; tourism economy ‘losing ground, not gaining’ ” — a stark contrast to a forecast nearly 20 years back which projected 500,000 tourists from Japan during pre-Covid representing 50% of total arrivals; 250,000 or 25% from China; 150,000 or 15% from Korea, 25,000 or 2.5% from Taiwan; 10,000 or 1% from Russia; and 65,000 or 6.5% from other markets — all have fizzled following Covid, the devaluation of international currencies to the U.S. dollar, limited air link capacity, and international tensions.
Over the years, Tudela said, the CNMI has been challenged and tested by natural and manmade disasters, and has consistently evolved from these crises whole, and the community much stronger learning from the experiences.
In our resilience, Tudela said, “we always look beyond setbacks and continue striving in positioning the CNMI to be America’s moderately priced destination in Asia, competing with places like Bali, the Philippines, Thailand, or Malaysia, destinations advantaged by lower-value currencies to the U.S. dollar, offering greater variety of exotic amenities in facilities, greater choices for shopping, nightlife and also known for their pleasant hospitality services. We, too, could accomplish this at Saipan’s highest mountain peak at Mt. Tapochao.”
Ss a community, Tudela said we should maintain our compass of good faith with due diligence to all headline grabbing work-in-progress efforts announced by the current administration in articles such as the “Governor tells delegate: We’re in full agreement on importance of tourism”; the “Governor OKs QC for Micronesian Air”; “Marianas Seminar in Japan promotes revival of ties”; “MB Capital signs franchise agreement with Marriott”; and “DPW announces bid process for $12.5M Tapochao Road improvement project,” to name a few.
Like other known international destinations in Asia, a Mt. Tapochao recreation and amusement park could offer residents and tourists alike with value-added tropical amenities, panoramic photo opportunities and filming, nighttime star gazing, seasonal bird watching, year-round cliff climbing experience and zip line platform, funicular ride, gift shop and eatery, spectacular observatory deck, and uniquely landscaped tropical garden, among others, Tudela said.
She added it is noteworthy “to remind ourselves that the United States maintains its commitment to the Covenant, and relevant here is Article IX, § 904(b), which states ‘that the United States will assist and facilitate the establishment by the Northern Marianas of offices in the United States and in foreign countries to promote local tourist and other economic and cultural interests of the Northern Marianas.’ ”
Moreover, § 904(c) of the Covenant also obligates the U.S. to assist and facilitate CNMI participation in regional or other international organizations dealing with social, economic, educational, scientific, technical and cultural matters other U.S. territories are similarly situated, Tudela said.
“Adding value to our destination will position the CNMI competitively as America’s moderately priced destination in Asia,” she said.
