Senator Dwayne San Nicolas
Hagatna, Guam — Democrat Senator Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas, on September 29, 2023, introduced a new piece of legislation that will transfer the administrative jurisdiction of the Salaglula Pool Park, commonly known as Inalahan Pool Park, to the Office of the Mayor of Inalahan from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), if the bill passes into Guam law.
“I introduced this bill in support of Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf, and his team for their efforts of taking responsibility to take care of the village,” said Sen. San Nicolas, author of Bill 180-37, who’s also the legislative chairman of the Committee on Emergency Response, Military and Veteran Affairs, Border Safety, and Mayors’ Council of Guam. “The legislation will authorize the mayor to take charge in maintaining this village park, which Mayor Chargualaf and staff have already been doing for several years. Additionally, it will alleviate the burden of the maintenance division at DPR.”
Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf
The 37th Guam Legislature finds that the Inalahan Pool is better maintained and managed by the Office of the Mayor of Inalahan than by DPR, the agency that has authority of the property. The Inalahan Mayor’s Office has been handling the responsibility of maintaining the Inalahan Pool, despite the park being under the administrative jurisdiction of DPR, according to the bill. Although the Inalahan Mayor is not obligated and not responsible for the maintenance of the Inalahan Pool Park, the village mayor’s office has taken upon this burden and has shown willingness and ability to manage and maintain the park.
If the bill is passed into Guam law, the Office of the Mayor of Inalahan will be responsible for the maintenance, operation, and management of the Inalahan Pool Park, the bill states. Additionally, DPR shall allocate funds to the Office of the Mayor of Inalahan for the maintenance of the Inalahan Pool Park.
Meanwhile, Inalahan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf is in favor of the bill. “I am in support of the measure because it will allow the Inalahan Mayor’s Office to use the pool park to its full potential,” said Chargualaf. “It will also allow the Inalahan Mayor’s Office to demonstrate and maintain the facility in terms of keeping it presentable and open to the public.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Telo T. Taitague, William A. Parkinson, Joe S. San Agustin, Roy A.B. Quinata, Jesse A. Lujan, and Christopher M. Duenas.
This act shall be effective upon enactment.
