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By Ulysses
Torres Sabuco
Variety News Staff
SENATE President Joaquin G.
Adriano said yesterday the Senate will “shelve” a House bill that calls
for a comprehensive study of pozzolan mining in the volcanic island of
Pagan even as Speaker Benigno R. Fitial appealed for its
passage.
Fitial, along with Cinta Kaipat, the proponent of the
signature drive urging the Senate to pass House Bill 14-204, turned over
yesterday afternoon copies of the petition containing 576 signatures in
support of the pozzolan mining study.
But Adriano is unperturbed.
“Even if we receive the signatures, members of the committee will not
move anything on that bill. It is not going anywhere,” Adriano told
Variety yesterday afternoon.
Adriano, R-Tinian, said based on the
discussion and recommendation of the Senate Committee on Resources,
Economic Development and Programs, the Upper House leadership decided to
“shelve” the bill. Senator Luis P. Crisostimo, D-Saipan, chairs the
committee.
He said the CNMI government is cash-strapped and it needs
more foreign investment. He added the intent of H.B. 14-204 is to “prevent
foreign investors.”
Adriano said the Senate itself has gone out of its
way to entice foreign investors to come to the CNMI, including Azmar
Foundation and Consolidated American Energy Resources Inc.
The firm is
interested in getting a commercial mining permit in Pagan which is said to
be rich with pozzolan deposits—a rare additive ingredient in
cement.
“As of now, we do not entertain anything on that bill by
passing it...we see this bill as a block to pozzolan mining,” said
Adriano, referring to Fitial’s bill.
‘Partnership’ Senate Minority Leader Pete P.
Reyes, R-Saipan, said Pagan residents “should be given the chance” to be
heard.
Reyes is instead proposing that the CNMI government enter into a
“partnership” rather than solely give out the pozzolan resources to a
single contractor.
“We can enter into a partnership. That is the key
word that the people of Pagan is looking for. Let us find a partner that
is willing to share the wealth, instead (of solely giving it),” Reyes
said, appealing to his colleagues to be also cognizant of the
situation.
“We don’t have the money to mine it (but it does not mean
that we have to let go of it) because it is a shared wealth of the
commonwealth that is sitting out there and is visible to the eyes,” he
added.
He said to solely contract-out the mining is tantamount to
“ripping-off” the CNMI, particularly Pagan residents of their
wealth.
Kaipat told Fitial their members “are not opposed” to the
mining.
“(As) long as it is done properly, following a complete
inventory and assessment of the island’s assets, to ensure that we know
exactly what we are selling (we do not oppose it),” Kaipat said, adding
that for as long as the “CNMI secures the best deal among competing
bidders, rather than sole-sourcing it to a questionable company.”
“We
seek a fair, equitable deal that would benefit the people of the
CNMI.”
Kaipat also said Pagan residents want to ensure that any
proposed mining would not place undue harm on the island’s environment,
which is why a comprehensive study is needed.
As of yesterday,
environmental and cultural groups on Guam, Hawaii and the mainland have
expressed concern on the issue.
Pagan is now an uninhabited island
following its 1981 eruption. The danger of potential eruption prompted the
government to permanently relocate the residents.
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