Schools and non-profits bear burden of latest executive order
Before any official word came from the Office of the Governor, Guam schools began notifying parents on Aug. 27 – a Friday afternoon – that Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero “made the decision to shift all K-12 schools on island to virtual learning for the next two weeks, effective Monday, Aug. 30.” Also, “The full Executive Order will be released later this evening,” the message to parents at one local school said.
While the island waited, word also went round the island from multiple sources that gatherings will be limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, and that it is expected that all attendees at gatherings must be vaccinated, also effective Monday, Aug. 30.
The Journal was unable to receive a response from the Office of the Governor after repeated attempts.
Events from the Marianas Business Journal Event Calendar:
Aug. 25 – Guam Chamber of Commerce membership lunch, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa – HELD VIRTUALLY
Aug. 31 – Guam Conservatory of Arts Fundraiser, Barrigada property
Sept. 4 – Oasis Cooler All Day White Beach party, The Cove, Tamuning
Sept. 4 – Made to Move 1st virtual dance concert workshops, dance concert and premiere party, Dusit Thani Guam, benefit for Ayuda Foundation Wings For Life – POSTPONED
Sept. 9 – Guam Business Magazine Sales and Marketing Forum, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa –POSTPONED
Sept. 11 – Pink Ball, Dusit Thani Guam Resort, to benefit Guam Cancer Care and Harvest House
Sept. 14 and 15 – Guam Contractors Association Safety Conference, Hyatt Regency Guam
Sept. 18 – University of Guam Society of Emeritus Professors & Retired Scholars fundraiser for UOG, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa
Sept. 30 – 1st Annual Shut up & Fish Guam International Awards Banquet, Guam Museum
Oct. 2 – Guam Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala, Dusit Thani Guam Resort – CANCELLED
Oct. 23 – Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross Red Ball, Hyatt Regency Guam
Oct. 27 – Guam Chamber of Commerce membership lunch
Oct. 30 – University of Guam Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony, Hyatt Regency Guam.
email [email protected] with updates for your event
Who, what is MNDPI Pacific JV?
MDNPI Pacific JV – a Honolulu based joint venture was awarded Aug. 26 an $88 million modification for architectural and engineering services to increase the maximum dollar value of a previous contract for “various structural and waterfront … and other projects in the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Pacific area of operations,” according to an Aug. 26 release from the U.S. Department of Defense. NAVFAC Pacific made the modification award.
The total cumulative contract value is $187 million, with an expected completion date of July 2025. The original award was made to the JV in July 2020, according to Journal files.
Work destinations include Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, 70%; Hawaii, 10%; Japan, 10%; and Australia, 10%.
In May, the JV was awarded a $42.1 million task order modification for architectural-engineering services to prepare the request for proposal for a dry dock replacement at Pearl Harbor, to be completed by April 2022.
Moffat & Nichol comprise the “MN” of the JV, and Design Partners Inc. are the “DPI.” Moffat & Nichol is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif. and DPI is headquartered in Honolulu. Both firms have significant portfolios of work for the U.S. military and in Hawaii, where Moffat & Nichol also has a Honolulu office. Moffat & Nichol executives listed as contacts for the JV include those in Hawaii.
Design Partners Inc. has an office in Guam. According to DPI’s website, its various projects on military bases on the island include those at Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Guam, plus the Naval Base Guam Exchange expansion and renovation.
Off-island company bags more work at Andersen
CMS Corp. announced Aug. 24 it has been awarded a $29 million contract to renovate and make additions to Hangar 6 at Andersen Air Force Base, to include additional supply and support sections.
CMS received the task order through a $2.6 billion prime Worldwide Engineering and Construction contract with the U.S. Air Force, it said.
CMS is currently working on a $3.3 million design-build-repair contract for six fuel tanks at Andersen and has been doing work in Guam for 11 years, it said. The company also completed in 2014 the $10.1 million design-build Pacific Air Force combat communications transmission facility and its support facility at Andersen, according to its website.
Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, CMS was established in 1996.
GIAA board shares fiscal news; capital improvement plans
The Guam International Airport Authority’s board of directors approved the fiscal 2022 budget, which included funding from the Airport Rescue Grant.
“We expect to draw down $7 million of the ARG, and push the remaining $8 million to the fiscal 2022 budget,” said Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, GIAA’s deputy executive manager.
The fiscal 2022 budget also included an operations and maintenance portion, which allots $22.2 million to personnel services, $22.6 million to contractual services, $1.8 million to materials and supplies, $582,500 to equipment and $800,000 to other operating expenses.
Also, GIAA expects to earn an additional $11,000 in revenue compared to what is expected from fiscal 2021.
During the Aug. 27 meeting, the board also ratified three grants for the airport, including a $14.17 million Airport Rescue Grant and a $5.1 million runway rehabilitation grant. The runway rehabilitation project is estimated to be completed by early next calendar year.
These grants, along with other federal funding the airport has received, has allowed almost all fees per passenger to be reduced.
“We’ve taken all the federal funding and used it to help mitigate,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez also announced the 10 capital improvement projects planned for fiscal 2022, including the continuation of construction on the arrival corridor, rehabilitation to terminal aprons, an update noise study and the design of new cargo aprons adjacent to cargo facilities with fueling capability. All four of these projects are fully federally funded, with the other six waiting on word about monetary help.
John M. Quinata, executive manager, announced that there will be a Federal Aviation Administration annual certification inspection on Sept. 13.
He also said that GIAA will be enforcing Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero’s mandatory vaccination or weekly testing, adding, “I am proud to announce that 95% of GIAA employees are already fully vaccinated.”
In other airport news, Quinata said that flights from Manilla, Saipan, Korea and Taipei are all doing well – despite COVID surges in Asian markets and in Guam.
Hernandez was also the guest speaker at the Guam Chamber of Commerce virtual membership meeting on Aug. 25.
He told members, “We continue to look for ways to diversify our revenue.” The arrival corridor will be completed by the end of the calendar year, he said at the chamber meeting. “The master plan update will be completed in the next few months,” he also said.
Key factors for the future will include “the pace of recovery and the lifting of travel restrictions in key markets,” he said.
The airport was considering what it could do to improve the inside of the airport, Hernandez told members, adding that the timing was not good for lease negotiation. However, he said, the five-year lease on airport property “is a larger impediment.” Not all businesses wanted to see a longer lease approved by the Guam Legislature, Hernandez said.
EITC site for NMI residents to go live
The Northern Mariana Islands Department of Finance, Division of Revenue and Taxation announced Aug. 26 that the CNMI Advance Child Tax Credit Update Portal will launch at midnight ChST on Aug. 27. Visit https://ctcup.dof.gov.mp. Taxpayers unable to use the portal, can use Form AdvCTC on the DOF website at https://www.dof.gov.mp/forms.php and submit to DRT for processing.
Advance CTC payments will begin August through December. Taxpayers can also elect not to receive payments.
COVID updates:
The Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association began polling members and other businesses on Aug. 26 on the effect of Executive Order 2021-20, which limits guests to vaccinated individuals and requires employees to be vaccinated, or test. The survey can be found on www.ghra.org.
COVID testing on Aug. 26 at Tiyan saw a lineup of 20 cars at 6.30 a.m. which reached 100 by 7.30 a.m., according to Journal readers.
The Guam Joint Information Center announced Aug. 26 that 108 of 1,349 tested positive for COVID-19; and ten GDOE Students and fve Employees tested positive. JIC announced Aug. 25 that 47 of 1,456 people tested positive for COVID-19; 32 individuals were hospitalized for COVID-19, with 22 unvaccinated and 3 whose status was unknown.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. announced Aug. 25 three individuals tested positive on arrival in Saipan.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memorandum Aug. 26 requiring mandatory vaccination of active or reserve DoD members who are not vaccinated, to include National Guard, using the FDA approved Pfizer vaccine. Austin called for an “ambitious timeline” and regular progress reports.
Apprenticeships and career development:
A third cohort of the Nursing Assistant Education Program through the University of Guam School of Health, the UOG Global Learning and Engagement Department, and the Guam Department of Labor, have begun paid apprenticeships at Guam Regional Medical City, Health Services of the Pacific, and (for the first time in the program) the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority.
The 18 students completed caregiver training, according to an Aug. 26 release from UOG.
Twenty-one participants successfully completed all coursework and training requirements for a Guam Community College Information Technology Boot Camp, earning Certificates of Completion and five college credits toward a degree or certificate. The graduates are now working through apprenticeships at Docomo Pacific, G4S and IT&E, according to an Aug. 23 release.
Twenty-three Guam Community College ProStart students from Okkodo High School, Simon Sanchez High School and Tiyan High School completed 180 hours of work experience at several Guam businesses: the Hyatt Regency Guam, Korned Food Truck, Chef’s Inasal BBQ House, TGI Friday’s, Jollibee, Jack in the Box, and Westin Resort Guam, according to an Aug. 18 release.
Students who complete the ProStart requirements, including the 180-hour work experience, achieve a B or better grade point average and graduate from high school will be credited nine college credits upon enrolling in GCC’s associate’s programs in culinary, and foodservice management. ProStart prepares students for careers in food service and the restaurant industry.
And also:
TakeCare Insurance Co. has announced a new Wellness Center will open in October at the Baltej Pavilion in Tamuning. The center will include a kitchen, and consultation and education rooms. Participants will be able to register and schedule one-on-one and group classes, workshops and consultations online for programs that focus on nutrition, diet, disease prevention, and disease management. The center will also feature the Evolt 360 Body Composition Analyzer Intelligent Body Scanner.
Jonei Delgado, registered dietician nutritionist, will teach cooking workshops focusing on incorporating nutrient dense foods and ingredients into meals. She will provide guidance on nutritional habits
BankGuam Holding Co. announced a quarterly cash dividend of 10c per share for holders of common stock and a dividend payment to the holders of the Company’s 4.97% Fixed Rate/Floating Rate Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A in an Aug. 27 release. Dividends will be paid Sept. 30 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15.
Products and services at the FSM Postal Service are scheduled for a mid-year rate increase from Aug. 29. Per the terms of the Compact of Free Association, as Amended, the FSM Postal Service is obligated to match (or exceed) U.S. Postal Service rates. Stamps are increasing from 55c to 58c; Flats from $1 to $1.16; certified mail from $3.60 to $3.75; and registered mail $12.90 to $13.75.
Shipping rates on services such as Priority Mail are not increasing. The FSM Postal Service does not anticipate further pricing changes for letter mail until next year, though there will likely be another peak surcharge for packages this holiday season, according to an Aug. 27 release from the Office of the President. mbj
