A SENATE special committee on Tuesday began its oversight hearing on alleged discrepancies in the Office of Grants Management and State Clearinghouse report pertaining to some federal funding that the Commonwealth has received over the years.
The committee comprises Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan, Sens. Victor B. Hocog, and Francisco Q. Cruz.
In his opening statement, Hofschneider said the OGM came into existence through legislation five years ago, and so when inquiries by the legislative body regarding the status of OGM operations are not being answered, the special committee is warranted to obtain those answers.
OGM Administrator Epiphanio E. Cabrera, along with grants specialist Frankie F. Angel and assistant administrator John Jay Sanchez, appeared before the special committee to answer inquiries regarding the structure of the office.
They emphasized that the office is understaffed and overwhelmed, given that it only has nine staff members handling hundreds of grants.
“Not having enough time and personnel has always been our weakness. At OGM, there are only nine of us trying to make it work. Yes, we are overextended, spread thin, yet we continue to trek on,” said Cabrera, noting that the office does a variety of work from handling grants to assisting with the CNMI’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, among other things.
Moreover, he noted that the grants office deals with hurdles, such as short time frames to submit grant applications, various requirements or criteria to be met in order to avail of certain grants, and again, performing several activities with such a small number of staff members.
Cabrera added, “The dynamics of the grants world never seems to stop…. Everything is being compounded every single day and there’s only nine of us. All of these duties and responsibilities get tested on the daily.”
Sanchez, for his part, said ideally, the office would need at least 20 staff members, and that the office is actively seeking out personnel.
Cabrera said the office will hire more personnel as it will also be moving into a new office space.
But he said legislation would be needed in order to have the budget to pay for more personnel.
He said OGM simply cannot manage all of the hundreds of grants tapped by the CNMI.
However, there has been training provided among departments and agencies on how they can each apply for federal granting opportunities.
It was also noted that although award letters are received and sent out to applicants, denial letters are not sent out.
The special committee strongly urged the office to keep in communication with applicants to keep them informed.
Furthermore, the special committee recommended that the office review its statutory duties and responsibilities laid out in Public Law 19-49, which created the office, its rules and regulations, the grant process and procedures as well as the reporting requirement to the Legislature.
The committee thanked the OGM administration and staff for providing answers to lawmakers’ inquiries, noting that the information provided by the office regarding its operations not only helps with the line of communication between OGM and the Legislature, but it also assists with the deliberations over the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Also present for the oversight hearing were Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, Rep. Leila Staffler, Rep. Celina Babauta, and OGM staff members.
The committee has asked the following to provide pertinent information pertaining to the oversight hearing inquiries: Homeland Security and Emergency Management Special Assistant Gerald Deleon Guerrero, Commonwealth Office of Transportation Authority Special Assistant Alfreda Camacho, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Director Arlene Reyes, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Director Erlinda Naputi, Office of Planning and Development Director Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, Department of Commerce Acting Secretary Edward M. Deleon Guerrero, Department of Public Works Secretary James A. Ada, CNMI Council of Developmental Disabilities Executive Director Pamela C. Sablan, Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Anthony T. Benavente, Department of Labor Secretary Vicky I. Benavente, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig and Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan.
The four-day hearing is set for June 15, 17, 22 and 24. On each day, the hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. in the Senate chamber.
Office of Grants Management and State Clearinghouse administrator Epi Cabrera, back to the camera, is sworn in prior to testifying before a Senate special committee in the Senate chamber on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
Jude U. Hofschneider
