THIS holiday season, CNMI retirees will receive a $500 bonus while residential households will get a $500 voucher for utilities, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said Friday.
“I would like to announce on behalf of my administration, as well as working with [the Department of] Finance, that we will be giving every retiree a bonus of $500 starting December 15. We have been communicating [about] the process in making sure that by December 15, every retiree will be receiving a $500 bonus,” the governor said.
“On top of that, we will also have every [Commonwealth Utilities Corporation] residential account… given $500 as a voucher into their account.”
Torres said the vouchers were placed into CUC residential accounts as early as this past weekend.
“If they have a registered account as a residential meter, then they will have the $500 voucher,” he added.
As for the source of this funding, the governor said, “We put [these funds] aside and we worked on it [so that the] funds that we’re using would not hamper any federal regulations.”
The retirees’ bonus will be received through either direct deposit or a mailed check, he said.
“So again, [this is] great news. After all of the things that we’ve gone through, we have $500 for every retiree. I want to thank you for everything you have done, your sacrifices that continue, and know the support and the blessings that you have given the administration, I want to personally thank you and your family. I know that $500 for the holidays will go a long way, as well as the $500 for every residential utility meter owner,” he said.
The governor noted that earlier this year, $500 in local stimulus was distributed to CNMI taxpayers.
Ralph DLG Torres
