Senator Tom Ada and his committee went through all the five (5) bills during the public hearing which started at 1:30 pm in the Legislative Hearing Room last October 29, 2015. These bills are intended to transfer more than 300 acres of land to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission or CLTC that could be used for commercial, agriculture, and residential lease to be added to the department’s inventory.
The five (5) bills that were presented during the public hearing are:
• 192-33 – An act to amend Public Law 22-18 to transfer thirty-five (35) acres of lot 10122-r18, municipality of Dededo reserved by the Department of Education for the Astumbo Elementary School to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission for residential and agricultural leasing.
• 193-33- An act to amend Public Law 22-18 to transfer thirty-five (35) acres of lot 10122-r18, municipality of Dededo reserved by the Department of Education for the Astumbo Middle School to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission for residential and agricultural leasing.
• 194-33- An act to transfer lot 3463, Agana Heights to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission for residential and agricultural leasing.
• 195-33- An act to amend Public Law 22-18 to Transfer lot 3470, municipality of Chalan Pago reserved for Guam’s health care needs to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission for residential and/or agricultural leasing.
• 196-33-An act to transfer four hundred (400) plus lots which have lapsed into foreclosure from all the “Land for the Landless” subdivisions and all other such subdivisions to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission’s available lands inventory for Chamorro homelands
It can be recalled that recently, Senator Tom Ada has spotted numerous lands that could be used by the Guam government for commercial lease and can be added to the territory’s income generation. The estimated 300-acre land has been identified to be “idle” by the Senator and that it has not been put to good use.
This led to Tom Ada’s proposal to transfer the unused land areas to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission and add to its inventory.
According to Senator Ada, he is hoping that the rules and regulation for commercial lease of the Chamorro Land Trust Commission would be passed and that portion of the 300-acre land can be taken out from the CLTC’s inventory and use for commercial leases.
Sen. Tom Ada’s was referring to his Bill 175-33 as the rules and regulation mentioned above – An act to prioritize the surveying, registration, and construction of infrastructure for Chamorro Land Trust Commission (CLTC) residential and agriculture properties using the proceeds of commercial leases, through the enactment of rules and regulations for CLTC commercial leases. The bill is all set and just waiting for Governor Calvo’s signature to make it official.
Michael Borja, Department of Land Management director said on earlier press release that the whole idea is not to lease all the property to make money. The purpose is to have the land available and usable for residential and agricultural leases in the coming days to add to GovGuam’s revenue.
Director Borja added that the department is planning to lease out a portion of the commercial property to different housing developers to put the land to good use. The development of the land plus residential expansion and development is a win-win situation for the commission and the generation of revenue would be a big bonus.
A Letter from the DPHSS Director
A letter was received on the day of the public hearing (Oct. 29) from The Department of Public Health and Social Service Director, James Gillian. According to the letter, Director Gillian is requesting that the lots remain dedicated to the intent of providing options for development that would evolve as the commission’s position to address the needs of the elderly and public health through alternate options. Dir. Gillian also stated in the letter that they are still developing initiatives on assisted living and also applying to expand for an adult day care facility for the elderly where the Inarajan Senior Center is located.
The letter included a working draft for the Public Health Laboratory that was dated April 2015 proving that a facility is proposed to be built on the land included under proposed Bill 195-33.
Gillian is also opposed to the transfer of DPHSS properties to CLTC as per 195-33 and is asking Senator Ada to look for alternate sites for their projects.
Senator Ada has yet to comment on the letter as the Legislature will go into session to vote on these bills during by mid November./The Junction News Team
