(Press Release) — Tinian Rep. Patrick H. San Nicolas supports the payment of special compensation to Tinian resident department heads who were part of the Municipal Operations Center immediately after Super Typhoon Yutu.
“Tinian residents were devasted by Super Typhoon Yutu. Homes were destroyed, vehicles were toppled, and our basic infrastructure was severely compromised. With no power or water, Tinian needed every hand on deck to support Homeland Security recovery efforts. We especially needed the RDHs, who had experience in responding to major disasters,” San Nicolas said.
Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan recently voiced his concern about calls by the Attorney General’s Office for the return of RDH typhoon pay. Representative San Nicolas joins Mayor Aldan in opposing the return of the RDH compensation.
“Like Mayor Aldan said, Tinian only has one Homeland Security employee. When Yutu hit Tinian, RDHs augmented the lack of manpower and provided much needed support and leadership,” San Nicolas said.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres issued Executive Order 2018-16 immediately after Yutu hit the Marianas. According to the executive order, a “temporary exemption” was granted from any Commonwealth regulation that would tend to prevent, hinder, or delay any action the Homeland Security Office deemed necessary when assisting and supporting the Commonwealth in its recovery from Typhoon Yutu.
On Nov. 16, 2018, Governor Torres, in an effort to meet the exceptional challenges of recovery and of repairing tremendous damage received, issued Directive 2018-003 authorizing all CNMI government organizations and employees to receive a special compensation of 2.5 times the base salary for work directly related to the Commonwealth’s recovery efforts.
“Governor Torres authorized all government employees to receive the special compensation under the condition such work was related to the Commonwealth’s recovery efforts. Moreover, Homeland Security and the governor’s office authorized each employees’ work activity and the hours worked. I personally witnessed the hard work and sacrifice all workers gave for the recovery effort, including the resident department heads,” San Nicolas said.
“I would like to thank Governor Torres, his administration, all federal officials and CNMI mayors and front liners for their rapid response and leadership immediately after we were struck by Super Typhoon Yutu,” said San Nicolas.
