THE transition committee’s review of the CNMI government is almost complete, except for the Department of Finance and the other agencies handling American Rescue Plan Act funds.
In a press conference on Monday, the transition committee of Gov.-elect Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov.-elect David M. Apatang updated the media about the transition process.
According to former Rep. Claudio Norita, the vice chair of the subcommittee on transition, 28 of the 32 transition teams have already completed their reports. He said they are now waiting for the reports from the teams tasked to review the Department of Finance, the Infrastructure Recovery Program, the Grants Management Office and the Office of Planning and Development.
He said the transition teams are trying to access financial records and Munis, a financial software designed to handle public sector records.
Norita said some department and agency heads did not give the transition team access until the Commonwealth Election Commission certified the election results on Dec. 16, 2022.
After the elections results were certified, Norita said they still encountered setbacks with cabinet members resigning or going on terminal leave without naming an acting head.
In some cases, he said the transition teams were only able to perform their tasks after Gov. Ralph DLG Torres issued memoranda on the delegation of authority.
Former Rep. John “Liling” Reyes, the overall transition committee chairman, said they expect to obtain the complete reports from the rest of the teams soon.
“We need all those information in order to make a good determination on how this new government will survive,” he added.
He said outgoing Gov. Torres has reprogrammed $250,000 in local funds for the transition team and the inauguration set for 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 9, 2023 outside the Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe.
Reyes said they were instructed by the governor-elect and lt. governor-elect to be very conservative in spending the funds. That is why their aim is to reduce expenses and to ensure transparency in spending the transition and inauguration funds, he added. If there are leftover funds, Reyes said they will return them to the general fund.
As for the inauguration, former Speaker Oscar M Babauta, the vice chair of the inauguration subcommittee, said they have been working almost 24/7 to complete all the tasks, ranging from invitations to venue arrangement.
He said he was also advised to minimize the cost of the inauguration, which is why they are “seeking assistance” from “our corporate people in the CNMI to help us defray the cost of this event.”
He said his subcommittee has also been receiving RSVPs from invited dignitaries and other off-island guests.
“We now stand ready to greet them with our Hafa Adai and Tirow spirit and we are definitely moving ahead,” Babauta said.
Overall transition committee chairman, former Rep. John “Liling” Reyes, center, talks to members of the media, as transition subcommittee vice chairman former Rep. Claudio Norita, left, and inauguration subcommittee vice chairman, former Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, listen during a media conference at the transition committee office in Susupe on Monday.
