“You have failed us!” screamed Rota resident and local business owner Pedro Dela Cruz after the 2 hour Commonwealth Utilities Corporation’s public hearing for the proposed base-rate hike on utilities for the CNMI. From residents, to leaders, to local business owners, the opposition was the same at last night’s public hearing held at the Guma Husistia on Rota.
The sentiment was clear: Rota rate-payers cannot afford the financial burden.
Mayor of Rota Aubry M. Hocog says it will continue to drive residents out of Rota. Local business owner Juan Pan Leon Guerrero said it is unrealistic. From Luta, For Luta founder Mona Manglona said it was far from being fair, just, or reasonable.
Rota Senator Donald Manglona asked why CUC “isn’t knocking on the Governor’s door," for a signature to sign into law a recent legislation that authorizes CUC to seek a $40 million loan before pushing the financial burden onto residents.
Peter Taitano, a CUC employee for 16 years, spoke of the hardship CUC has been under and its ripple effect on employees and operations, but added that despite his damaged home and totaled business after recent super typhoons, he is still paying his bills.
Kay Christian a 15-year Rota resident, attested to her nearly 4 months without power, forcing her to live off-grid. She said, "The more people go off the grid, the less people you are going to have as rate-payers.”
Residents said they will be faced with an impossible choice: pay for power or other basic needs.
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