The Department of Public Works, Division of Energy, in collaboration with the CNMI Office of the Governor, Office of Grants Management & State Clearinghouse (OGM-SC), held its 2022 Rota Energy Educational Awareness and Community Outreach Program Campaign Drive-Thru Distribution Event last weekend on July 23 and July 24, 2022.
Tackling the continuous rise in utility rates, the Division of Energy’s outreach program held at the Rota Man’Amko Center on Saturday in Sinapalo and Rota Roundhouse on Sunday in Songsong were measures to encourage residents to remain resilient through energy conservation and reduction of expenses by utilizing the distributed Portable Gas Stoves and Butane Gas Canisters to residential households.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) – State Energy Program (SEP) and the CNMI Office of the Governor, OGM-SC, the distribution event was open to residential homeowners, provided they present a valid government-issued identification card (ID) and a copy of a most recent CUC utility billing with the same name on the ID and CUC account. Each household received one gas stove and 16 butane gas canisters. About 400 households participated in the two-day event.
Director of the Division of Energy, Mrs. Thelma B. Inos, expressed her sincere gratitude to the Municipality of Rota’s staff and acting Rota Mayor Jonovan H. Lizama for assisting with the distribution drive and increasing energy awareness in the community.
“Given the increase in CUC residential electric rates, we welcome any assistance to the general public from the government, federal or locally funded, especially here on Rota because it’s getting more difficult to live with conditions caused by inflation and the high price of commodities,” stated acting Mayor Lizama.
Director Inos further added, “For Tinian and Saipan residents, the distribution drive will occur sometime mid to late August. The Energy Division is waiting for the bulk supply of butane gas to arrive at the port before we can finalize the distribution dates. Again, each household will receive one portable gas stove and 16 butane gas canisters.”
Governor Ralph DLG. Torres was pleased with the turnout for the distribution drive and credits the Division of Energy and Office of Grants Management & State Clearinghouse for their planning and assistance to the Rota community. He further added, “I will push for more energy assistance projects to combat the high energy prices and ensure that the CNMI Energy Task Force looks into other alternative energy mediums and accelerates the movement of solar PV grid technology in the Commonwealth.”
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