SENATOR Edith Deleon Guerrero on Thursday prefiled a Senate joint resolution requesting Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Secretary of Finance David DLG Atalig to implement a $500 fuel voucher program.
According to Senate Joint Resolution 22-8, the Commonwealth’s fuel cost in 2021 was $5.17 per gallon on Saipan, $6.11 per gallon on Tinian, and $5.77 per gallon on Rota, while the 2021 national fuel price average, according to the American Automobile Association, was $3.36.
“With the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it is reasonably expected that the fuel prices will increase even higher, further affecting the lives of everyone.
“This legislative body recognizes that there are many hardships which the people of the [CNMI] are faced with, and additionally, the citizens have endured an abundance of physical, emotional, and financial constraints as a result of the evolving global pandemic that is associated with the Covid-19 virus. In addition to the various hardships imposed by economic turmoil caused by the global pandemic, the NMI residents face substantial increases in fuel prices.”
The joint resolution states that Guam is also experiencing the same financial hardships caused by the global pandemic and the substantially high costs of fuel, resulting in the territorial government’s implementing a gas voucher program using American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Through this program on Guam, qualifying recipients will receive $100 fuel voucher over a span of three months, totaling $300, “in an effort to assist in mitigating the overwhelming rise in fuel costs.”
“The residents of the Commonwealth are also in need of government financial assistance to ease the burden of the high fuel costs on all three islands,” the joint resolution stated.
Receiving no opposition, S.J.R. 22-8 was placed on the Senate resolution calendar.
On Wednesday, March 9, Mobil Oil Marianas raised its fuel prices by 30 cents. Shell was expected to follow suit.
The regular gas price on Saipan went up to $6.06 a gallon from $5.76 a gallon; premium gas to $6.51 a gallon from $6.01 a gallon; and diesel to $6.53 a gallon from $6.13 a gallon.
On Friday, Mobil raised its fuel prices on Saipan by 20 cents. Shell Marianas raised its prices the next day.
