By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The 38th Guam Legislature today passed an emergency bill appropriating $12 million in pre-landfall funding to assist with storm preparation, response and recovery efforts in anticipation of Tropical Depression 29W, which the weather office said might have the same strength as Typhoon Mawar.
Bill 371-38, authored by Sen. Telo Taitague, taps Guam's Rainy Day Fund to help government agencies, village mayors and emergency shelters prepare for Tropical Depression 29W.
Similar to appropriations made by the legislature in preparation for Typhoon Bavi, Bill 371-38 authorizes disbursement of the following, which are included within the total $12 million appropriation.
· $250,000 to each Mayor's Office for village preparedness, emergency supplies, response, and assistance
· to residents.
· $250,000 to each GDOE school activated as an emergency shelter to support shelter operations and
· families seeking refuge.
· $100,000 to the Mayors' Council of Guam for emergency-related administrative costs.
The bill includes an amendment from Sen. Therese Terlaje to allocate an additional $2 million from the Rainy-Day Fund to the Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Assistant Program.
From this additional $2 million appropriation, $200,000 will be distributed to the Guam Farmer’s Co-op, and $200,000 will be distributed to the Guam Fisherman’s Co-Op in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Depression 29W.
This bill also mandates expenditure reporting from the mayors, GDOE, the Mayors' Council, and the Governor.
Additionally, any funds provided to the mayors, Mayors' Council, or school shelters that are not spent must be returned to the Rainy Day Fund
to ensure that unexpended funds appropriated for the impacts of Tropical Depression 29W remain available for future emergencies.
“Our mayors know which residents need assistance. Our schools provide shelter when families have nowhere else to go. They need the resources to prepare now, not after the storm arrives," Taitague said.
"The bill requires DOA to make funds available for disbursement within 24 hours of enactment, subject to fund availability and applicable law… We should not wait until the storm hits to decide whether our communities have the resources to respond. We have seen what happens when families lose power, roads become impassable, or residents must leave their homes."
"We must keep investing in stronger infrastructure, our schools, shelters, roads, power and water systems, and homes, so that our island can better withstand whatever Mother Nature brings our way," she said. "Our goal should not simply be to recover from every storm, but to build a Guam that is stronger and better prepared for the next one."
Sen. Shawn Gumataotao said, “Every village must prepare, from Yigo to Merizo, and our people must act now. In more than a decade of public service, I have never seen this body move so quickly.”
This year, the legislature appropriated $50 million for Sinlaku and Bavi response and recovery.
“My committee reviewed the Sinlaku response in June. Bavi grazed our island only three months ago, and its oversight hearing is still pending,” Gumataotao said following a special session on Bill 371-38.
“Until then, there is no full accounting. We are now being asked to take an additional $12 million from the Rainy Day Fund. Drawing on our reserves is a serious decision, and it calls for the same accountability we owe on every dollar already spent,” he added.
“Now we must ask ourselves honestly: does this latest emergency funding policy make Guam ready for the impending storm, or only make us look ready?” he asked.
Republicans rejected Sen. Chris Barnett’s proposed amendment to provide nearly 40,000 households with $500 each in one-time direct assistance to help families address the storm's coming impacts.
“For families already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, fuel, and other necessities, $500 could have helped purchase emergency supplies, fill vehicles with gasoline, secure future medications, and make minor home repairs,” Barnett said.
“Why should a family have to wait until their roof is damaged, their power goes out, or their refrigerator is full of spoiled food before we decide they need help?” Barnett said. “We know a storm is coming. We know families are struggling. And we had an opportunity to help them with recovery.”