Press Releases

In light of the recent Governor’s Executive Order 2020-06, issued on April 15, 2020, renewing the Declaration of State of Public Health Emergency and continued Declaration of a State of Significant Emergency for thirty (30) days, which also includes all memoranda, directives, waivers of regulations, and other measures taken in accordance with Executive Order 2020-04, as amended, due to the imminent threat posed by COVID-19, the CNMI Energy Division Office under the CNMI Department of Public Works regrets to inform the public that all program services for the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program shall remain temporarily suspended for another thirty (30) days.

The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) has announced that they will be providing limited services to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. BECQ will be minimizing direct contact between staff and applicants, permittees, and visitors by receiving and processing permit applications, as well as issuing permits, electronically when possible. Social distancing will continue to be strictly enforced.

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres and Lt. Governor Arnold I. Palacios announce today the launch of a new website for the CNMI Office of the Governor, governor.gov.mp, to provide residents of the Marianas the latest information on COVID-19, as well as other updates from the CNMI Government.

These are direct payments to you from the Federal Government. It will be distributed by the CNMI Department of Finance. 

What is Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)?

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, the Governor’s COVID-19 Task Force, and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) announced on Saturday the confirmation of one (1) new COVID-19 case, bringing CNMI’s total confirmed case count to 14.

We join the Marianas in mourning the passing of an icon and innovator in the Pacific, Abed E. Younis.

At the request of Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, the CNMI is set to receive $4,042,585 in technical assistance, which was allocated from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for all COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, and response efforts. 

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres, in consultation with his COVID-19 Task Force led by Chairman Warren Villagomez, Special Assistant of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Gerald J. Deleon Guerrero, and Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC) Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muña, has compiled the CNMI COVID-19 Emergency Directives that have been ongoing since the beginning of the CNMI’s response in late January 2020.

Governor Ralph DLG. Torres announced on Wednesday that CNMI Government employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are officially eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.