* CCU encouraged by direction of talks
Consolidated Commission on Utilities chairman Simon Sanchez said yesterday that the CCU has been meeting with officials from the U.S. and Japan over the last few days to tackle funding for Guams buildup needs.
CCU members met with representatives from Japans Ministry of Defense, a representative from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Joint Guam Program Office officials representing the Department of Defense and the local Navy team responsible for the buildup.
œWe have had broad discussions on the progress that is being made to get this money available to Guam. Nothing is finalized until the government of Japan and the United States end their discussions and if money is to be available it must occur through an appropriation by the Japanese government as part of their 2011 budget, said Sanchez.
Sanchez pointed out that Japans fiscal year ends in March, 2011, so any appropriation would be for Japans Fiscal Year 2012.
Sanchez said that during recent discussions, œit appears that is the direction they continue to proceed, which is to finalize their discussions. Then the government of Japan has to make sure the money does get appropriated.
Sanchez said that if the money is appropriated, œthen we will work on how that money will really flow into Guam.
When questioned what funding options were discussed, Sanchez said although the group did discuss preliminary financing structures, œits too early and too premature to say what type of structure might be used.
œThe bottom line for the meetings is that things continue to go in the direction that has been agreed to previously. We remain encouraged by the tone and direction of the discussions, but nothing has been agreed to or signed. The first step is for Japan to appropriate the money and that money flows to Guam, said the CCU chairman.
The federal government went on record to identify Japan as the source of $420 million for GWA and $160 million for GPA to upgrade Guams systems, œwhich will be repaid 100 percent by the Department of Defense, said Sanchez.
Sanchez thanked Governor Eddie Calvo and Speaker Judi Won Pat and other elected officials who committed to ensure the remaining $900 million will be made available to improve services to all Guam residents.
This year, said Sanchez, GWA will complete the payoff of $22 million worth of unpaid water and power bills inherited from the pre-CCU days.
Sanchez said the ratepayer surcharges for these payments œcan now be eliminated or used to meet other needs without further increasing water rates.
Sanchez said there are still parts of Guam with poor water pressure and limited wastewater access. Hundreds of miles of leaking water lines need to be repaired and replaced, he said.
œOver $50 million is needed to replace or build new sewer lines, and Guams largest wastewater plant in the north needs over $60 million to œimprove treatment and increase capacity.
Guams water storage tanks will need at least $30 million in investments to improve water pressure and maintain clean water quality, said Sanchez.Sanchez also noted that there are now 300 fewer employees at both GWA and GPA.
œWe are getting more service with fewer people and dedicating more ratepayer monies to fixing things instead of inflating payroll, he said.
Sanchez is serving his third and final term on the CCU. He was re-elected recently along with Eloy Hara and Benigno Palomo to serve on the commission.
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Article source: http://mvguam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16140:buildup-funding-tackled&catid=1:guam-local-news&Itemid=61
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Halo Sobat, Nama Saya Sofyan Syah, Memulai Dunia Blogging Sejak Nov 2011, Meskipun Masih Baru terjun di Dunia Blogging, Saya tidak patah semangat Untuk menjadi Yang terbaik dari yang Terbaik, karena saya yakin, Tidak ada hal yang tidak Mungkin.Buat saya Blogging Is My Life.Senang rasanya jika sobat sudah Berkunjung di blog ini.
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