Navy and Air Force issue stop movement order for Guam
“ … due to damage as a result of Typhoon Mawar, a stop movement for all permanent change of station moves to Guam for Navy uniformed members, civilians, and their dependents is in effect until 30 June,” according to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
The stop movement order means no staff or family members will move to Guam. “Personnel with orders to commands in the affected area who have not yet detached from their current command are directed to remain in place at their current command,” instructions said.
Whether this will delay the arrival and Change of Command ceremony for incoming Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman as commander of Joint Region Marianas, and the departure of Rear Adm. Benjamin R. Nicholson – who was due to take up his assignment as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Norfolk, Va. – is not yet clear. The Journal was unable to verify that as of press time.
Emergency session possible for bill for Guam residents
Sen. Amanda L. Shelton said she has asked Sen. Theresa M. Terlaje, speaker of the for an emergency session to pass Bill 129, which would give all 2021 tax filers a payment of $500 for post-Typhoon Mawar expenses.
The two senators and five other senators voted in favor of hearing the bill, which did not make it onto the May 31 agenda.
In other news from the 37th Guam Legislature, Sen. Tina Rose Muna Barnes, vice speaker and chairwoman for the Committee on Federal and Regional Affairs has written to Assistant Secretary Carmen G. Cantor of the U.S. Department of Interior for Insular Affairs, Delegate James C. Moylan of the United States House of Representatives, and Director Gretchen Sierra-Zorita of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at The White House.
During an emergency session on May 30, Robert Fenton Jr., administrator for Region 9 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; said Compact of Free Association migrants are currently ineligible for recovery aid. This raised concerns about the vulnerability of COFA migrants, many of whom have lost their homes due to recent typhoons.
Barnes asked about using discretionary funding from the Department of Interior to aid COFA migrants on Guam. Alternatively, she questioned whether an amendment to federal law would be required to ensure the eligibility of COFA migrants for federal recovery aid.
Saipan to host Oceania Cup
The Oleai Stadium in Saipan will host the 4th Oceania Cup on June 23 and 24. Teams will attend from Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, according to Oceania Athletics. The Northern Mariana Islands and Australia are the only two athletic federations fielding their own teams. More than 100 athletes are expected, as of May 29.
The “Micronesian Team” will be led by Olympians and sprinters Regine Tugade-Watson and Scott Fiti. The Oceania Cup is a qualifier for the Budapest World Championships and the Paris Olympics, with the same number of ranking points as the 2023 Pacific Games, according to Oceania Athletics. Vanuatu, Samoa and Australia hosted previous cups. Oleai Stadium was the 2022 Pacific Mini Games venue.
New provider of cancer services begins NMI partnership
CureMD, a “provider of comprehensive technology solutions for community oncology,” announced a partnership with the Northern Marianas Oncology Center at the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Health Care Center.
The Northern Marianas Oncology Center, led by Dr. Peter Brett, opened the Comprehensive Cancer Screening and Prevention Program in 2021, “to provide no-cost cancer prevention counseling and screening advice and testing to all residents,” according to a May 30 release.
For more information see https://www.chcc.health; or call (670) 234-8950, or contact Lee Tenorio at The Northern Marianas Oncology Center
(670) 234-8951/lee.tenorio@chcc.health or Ashley Yum at CureMD on (212) 509-6200/ashley.yum@curemd.com
More Mobil gas stations now open
Mobil Oil Guam has now opened Mobil Barrigada Heights, Mobil Ysengsong, Mobil Mangilao, and Mobil Adelup (For Fleet Card & Discount Card customers only) for a total of 18 stations. Mobil Tamuning has diesel only for GPA vehicles. Stations will now open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and will accept cash and cards, except for Mobil Barrigada Heights and Mobil Ysengsong, which are cash only.
GPA slowly restoring power
According to the Guam Power Authority, 28% of customers have seen power restored.
GWA about half-way home for operable wells
As of May 30, 48% of operable wells are on-line and producing water.
The Guam Water Authority is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expedite generators to high-producing well sites.
Two are now being deployed, with an additional eight generator installations in progress for pump stations. As of June 1, GWA has deployed ten 6000-gallon Flexible Potable Water Tanks around the island. In the North the Dededo Mayor’s Office, Yigo Gym, Chalan Palauan Mount Santa Rosa have received the tanks. The Mangilao Santa Teresita Church, Mangilao Mayor’s Office, and Mongmong Toto Maite Church in the central received them as well. Additionally, in the South the Inarajan Mayor’s Office, Malesso Pier, and Sinifa / Apra Height also got tanks.
The Northern District, Umatac-Merizo, Hagåtña and Inalåhan Wastewater Treatment Plants are all operating normally with the Agat-Santa Rita Wastewater Treatment Plant, although the flow is currently without power.
GWA is working with the Guam Power Authority to monitor power status at GWA wastewater pump stations and treatment plants.
Heavy rains flood island
Heavy rain on May 31 brought relief to island residents, but also flooding.
TakeCare Insurance is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact (671) 647-3526 or customerservice@takecareasia.com
No walk-ins. Medical and dental services are available; the Vision Center is closed.
Pacific Island leaders pow wow in South Korea
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol hosted members of the Pacific Islands Forum in Seoul on May 29. Among them were Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. and Marshall Islands President David Kabua. Other leaders were from the South Pacific and included Papua New Guinea, Niue, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Tona, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia, as well as Australia and New Zealand and Henry Puna, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The leaders discussed cooperation on a number of topics under the theme of "Navigating towards co-prosperity: strengthening cooperation with the Blue Pacific."
Yoon met separately with each of the leaders.
Bank updates branch and service hours
Bank of Guam has advised its Hagatna, Yigo, and Andersen Air Force Base branches are now open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All headquarters departments are open. All branches are open in the northern Mariana Islands, the Federates States of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. The Familia Contact Center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and can be reached at (671) 472-5300. Updates and relief programs can be found at Typhoon Mawar Communications, on Facebook and Instagram. mbj
“ … due to damage as a result of Typhoon Mawar, a stop movement for all permanent change of station moves to Guam for Navy uniformed members, civilians, and their dependents is in effect until 30 June,” according to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
The stop movement order means no staff or family members will move to Guam. “Personnel with orders to commands in the affected area who have not yet detached from their current command are directed to remain in place at their current command,” instructions said.
Whether this will delay the arrival and Change of Command ceremony for incoming Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman as commander of Joint Region Marianas, and the departure of Rear Adm. Benjamin R. Nicholson – who was due to take up his assignment as commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two, Norfolk, Va. – is not yet clear. The Journal was unable to verify that as of press time.
Emergency session possible for bill for Guam residents
Sen. Amanda L. Shelton said she has asked Sen. Theresa M. Terlaje, speaker of the for an emergency session to pass Bill 129, which would give all 2021 tax filers a payment of $500 for post-Typhoon Mawar expenses.
The two senators and five other senators voted in favor of hearing the bill, which did not make it onto the May 31 agenda.
In other news from the 37th Guam Legislature, Sen. Tina Rose Muna Barnes, vice speaker and chairwoman for the Committee on Federal and Regional Affairs has written to Assistant Secretary Carmen G. Cantor of the U.S. Department of Interior for Insular Affairs, Delegate James C. Moylan of the United States House of Representatives, and Director Gretchen Sierra-Zorita of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at The White House.
During an emergency session on May 30, Robert Fenton Jr., administrator for Region 9 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; said Compact of Free Association migrants are currently ineligible for recovery aid. This raised concerns about the vulnerability of COFA migrants, many of whom have lost their homes due to recent typhoons.
Barnes asked about using discretionary funding from the Department of Interior to aid COFA migrants on Guam. Alternatively, she questioned whether an amendment to federal law would be required to ensure the eligibility of COFA migrants for federal recovery aid.
Saipan to host Oceania Cup
The Oleai Stadium in Saipan will host the 4th Oceania Cup on June 23 and 24. Teams will attend from Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia, according to Oceania Athletics. The Northern Mariana Islands and Australia are the only two athletic federations fielding their own teams. More than 100 athletes are expected, as of May 29.
The “Micronesian Team” will be led by Olympians and sprinters Regine Tugade-Watson and Scott Fiti. The Oceania Cup is a qualifier for the Budapest World Championships and the Paris Olympics, with the same number of ranking points as the 2023 Pacific Games, according to Oceania Athletics. Vanuatu, Samoa and Australia hosted previous cups. Oleai Stadium was the 2022 Pacific Mini Games venue.
New provider of cancer services begins NMI partnership
CureMD, a “provider of comprehensive technology solutions for community oncology,” announced a partnership with the Northern Marianas Oncology Center at the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Health Care Center.
The Northern Marianas Oncology Center, led by Dr. Peter Brett, opened the Comprehensive Cancer Screening and Prevention Program in 2021, “to provide no-cost cancer prevention counseling and screening advice and testing to all residents,” according to a May 30 release.
For more information see https://www.chcc.health; or call (670) 234-8950, or contact Lee Tenorio at The Northern Marianas Oncology Center
(670) 234-8951/lee.tenorio@chcc.health or Ashley Yum at CureMD on (212) 509-6200/ashley.yum@curemd.com
More Mobil gas stations now open
Mobil Oil Guam has now opened Mobil Barrigada Heights, Mobil Ysengsong, Mobil Mangilao, and Mobil Adelup (For Fleet Card & Discount Card customers only) for a total of 18 stations. Mobil Tamuning has diesel only for GPA vehicles. Stations will now open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and will accept cash and cards, except for Mobil Barrigada Heights and Mobil Ysengsong, which are cash only.
GPA slowly restoring power
According to the Guam Power Authority, 28% of customers have seen power restored.
GWA about half-way home for operable wells
As of May 30, 48% of operable wells are on-line and producing water.
The Guam Water Authority is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expedite generators to high-producing well sites.
Two are now being deployed, with an additional eight generator installations in progress for pump stations. As of June 1, GWA has deployed ten 6000-gallon Flexible Potable Water Tanks around the island. In the North the Dededo Mayor’s Office, Yigo Gym, Chalan Palauan Mount Santa Rosa have received the tanks. The Mangilao Santa Teresita Church, Mangilao Mayor’s Office, and Mongmong Toto Maite Church in the central received them as well. Additionally, in the South the Inarajan Mayor’s Office, Malesso Pier, and Sinifa / Apra Height also got tanks.
The Northern District, Umatac-Merizo, Hagåtña and Inalåhan Wastewater Treatment Plants are all operating normally with the Agat-Santa Rita Wastewater Treatment Plant, although the flow is currently without power.
GWA is working with the Guam Power Authority to monitor power status at GWA wastewater pump stations and treatment plants.
Heavy rains flood island
Heavy rain on May 31 brought relief to island residents, but also flooding.
TakeCare Insurance is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact (671) 647-3526 or customerservice@takecareasia.com
No walk-ins. Medical and dental services are available; the Vision Center is closed.
Pacific Island leaders pow wow in South Korea
South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol hosted members of the Pacific Islands Forum in Seoul on May 29. Among them were Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. and Marshall Islands President David Kabua. Other leaders were from the South Pacific and included Papua New Guinea, Niue, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, Tona, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia, as well as Australia and New Zealand and Henry Puna, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum.
The leaders discussed cooperation on a number of topics under the theme of "Navigating towards co-prosperity: strengthening cooperation with the Blue Pacific."
Yoon met separately with each of the leaders.
Bank updates branch and service hours
Bank of Guam has advised its Hagatna, Yigo, and Andersen Air Force Base branches are now open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All headquarters departments are open. All branches are open in the northern Mariana Islands, the Federates States of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. The Familia Contact Center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and can be reached at (671) 472-5300. Updates and relief programs can be found at Typhoon Mawar Communications, on Facebook and Instagram. mbj