SAIPAN — The Department of Public Lands has asked Senate Vice President Corina L. Magofna’s office to identify which pending public land lease applications it considers most critical to the CNMI’s economic recovery, responding to the senator’s call for the department to expedite applications that are ready for approval.
In a May 25 letter to DPL Secretary Sixto K. Igisomar, Magofna urged the department to prioritize and expedite action on pending land lease applications that have already satisfied all required legal, regulatory, and administrative requirements. The senator, who chairs the Committee on Resources, Economic Development, and Workforce, framed the request as directly tied to the Commonwealth’s economic survival.
“At a time when the Commonwealth desperately needs new economic activity, capital investment, and revenue generation, the CNMI cannot afford unnecessary delays in moving forward with public land leases that have already satisfied all required legal, regulatory, and administrative requirements,” Magofna wrote.
The senator pointed to several compounding pressures on the local economy, including the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the proposed 20-hour work week for government employees in the Governor’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget submission, and a recent Fuel Adjustment Charge increase by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation that she said reportedly resulted in an increase of approximately 100 percent.
Magofna said there are industries and investors ready to move forward with projects that would inject substantial new capital into the local economy, and that every delay in processing qualified leases delays new revenue, jobs, business activity, and consumer spending.
In a May 28 response, Igisomar said the department understands and shares the senator’s concerns about the Commonwealth’s economic challenges, citing the same combination of Sinlaku, the proposed 20-hour work week, and the CUC Fuel Adjustment Charge increase.
To act on the request, Igisomar asked Magofna’s office to provide a list of the specific companies or applicants it would like the department to prioritize for expedited processing.
“This will allow us to immediately review their status, identify any outstanding requirements, and provide you with updated timelines,” Igisomar wrote.
The secretary said the department looks forward to working collaboratively with the Legislature to advance projects that will strengthen the Commonwealth’s long-term economic stability.
