Chuuk State in state of emergency: President Mori's declaration

Typhoon Maysak tears up Chuuk then moves to Yap

A tree downing a road-side market shack and power lines in Mwan Village, Weno Island, Chuuk (photo by Joey Iwo on FB)

FSMIS (March 30, 2015): Federated States of Micronesia President Manny Mori has held more than one meeting today primarily to look through reports of damages unleashed in Chuuk State by Typhoon Maysak and, at the same time, follow the storm chart as Yap State is also in direct hit by the still-intensifying Maysak.

According to a series of weather advisories provided by the United States National Weather Services in Guam, Typhoon Maysak hit Chuuk on March 29th, with closest point at 5 nautical miles north of Chuuk Lagoon, with winds of 80 miles per hour(mph) gusting to 100mph. 

The outer islands of Yap, including Satawal, Faraulap, Fais and Ulithi as well as the Yap main island are expected to face the ravages of this storm beginning the morning of March 30th until late evening of the next day as it passes through the streaks of islands in that area.  

President Mori organized relevant National Government agencies, namely the Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM), the Department of Health and Social Affairs, the Department of Resources and Development and the Department of Justice to consider and mobilize preliminary response to affected areas in Chuuk and look ahead to possible circumstances in Yap. 

President Mori on cellphone with Governor Elimo of Chuuk

The National Government is provisioning the patrol boat  FSS Independence with bottled water and medical supplies to be deployed to Chuuk early morning of March 31st as preliminary relief and transport a team of assessors and medical personnel through the Lukeisel  region and onward to the Northwest islands via Weno Island. 

 

According to FSM Secretary of Justice April Skilling, the Department in charge of the patrol boats, another boat will be deployed to Yap the next day.

As of this afternoon, President Mori is prepared to issue an FSM Disaster Emergency Declaration with regards the devastation already seen in the wake of Typhoon Maysak in Chuuk. He has been on the phone with Chuuk State Governor Johnson Elimo more than once today to expedite that process. 

By procedure, the State declaration has to be in place first before the President can issue a National version. 

Initial casualty report indicates five deaths in Chuuk from the storm, but there is still a lot of "unknown"  and unclear situations. 

(photo by Hiroyuki Mori on Facebook)

There is also report that island power on the Island of Weno has been restored as of today, although the power system faced some scattered damages and challenges. 

A link to Governor Elimo's letter of request to President Mori is proved hereunder.

http://fsmpio.fm/declarattion/chuuk_emergency.pdf

New changes in the FSM Postal Service

FSMIS (March 26, 2015): The Federated States of Micronesia Postmaster General (PMG), Mrs. Ginger Porter Mida, has issued some new information regarding new postal rates, priority flat rate boxes, and delayed delivery of mails.

The PMG has been notified by the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding the increase of postage rates that will begin on the 26th of April, 2015. PMG Mida explains in a recent notice that, "As specifically stated in the Amended Compact, the postage rate increase should be uniformed within the USPS. Thus, the Freely Associated States (FAS) postal rates will increase as well."

With regards the US Postal Service Priority Flat Rate Boxes, the FSM Postal Services will charge outbound mails according to their weight also starting on April 26th. 

PMG Mida also indicates that the FSM Postal Services "has no control" over delayed mails due to cancellation or alteration of flight schedules. 

"We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused… the FSM Postal Services has been coordinating with the USPS in resolving these issues so that our valued customers receive the best service they deserve." 

PMG Mida issued her notice on March 25, 2015. Inquiries can be emailed to fsmpostalpni@mail.fm directed to phone number 320-2313 or 320-2614. 

President Mori wants a High-Level Meeting with Chuuk State, Governor Elimo too busy

FSMIS (March 25, 2015): In a letter to Chuuk State Governor Johnson Elimo on March 10, 2015, Federated States of Micronesia President Mori suggested a high-level meeting on March 27 between the President, the Governor, the Chuuk Delegation to the FSM Congress, Chuuk Senate President Mark Mailo, Chuuk House Speaker Inosente Oneisom and The U.S. Ambassador to the FSM. 

"The sole purpose of this get together is to discuss the challenges that were brought up at the various meetings with respect to the Secession Movement but most importantly, to work toward mitigating the issues that were enumerated by the CPSC (Chuuk Political Status Commission) to be the contributing factors to the Movement", President Mori indicated in his March 10 letter. 

As his response, Governor Elimo expressed regret that the suggest meeting date "is not favorable to us here in Chuuk", he said in a March 16th response. 

"I am regretful to inform you that the time of such proposal is very untimely for me as I will be off island around that week, traveling to Hawaii and the US mainland. Immediately after returning to Chuuk, I will be off island to the Philippines for medical attention. Furthermore, I realized that the Chuuk Leadership, if not all, most will be off island until May of 2015."

The Governor added, " I am optimistic that an idea of such is definitely of valuable importance". 

The full text of Governor Elimo's letter is linked below. 

http://www.fsmpio.fm/Executive_Order/New%20folder/elimo_president.pdf

President Mori line item vetoes $5 million in CA 18-121: The Supplemental Budget Act

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) President Manny Mori has line item vetoed a specific section in the supplemental budget that removes $5,000,000 from the 2023 Investment Development Fund (IDF) by adding an additional $5,000,000 into the FSM Trust Fund,  “thereby leaving the 2023 Investment Development Fund unfunded”.  

Although President Mori commends Congress for appropriating more money for the FSM Trust Fund, he has consistently urged and encouraged a better balance of investment into the Trust Fund, the Investment Development Fund, and other “targeted” projects in the FSM States that will stimulate, promote, enable, and sustain short and long term economic growth.

In the framework of building a self-reliant economy, President Mori has asserted several times that a vibrant private sector plays a leading role in further developing the Nation’s economy.  One such Private Sector effort would be investing in viable economic projects, which also creates more job opportunities and the potential for increased domestic and foreign investment interest.  The 2023 Investment Development Fund was designed to support and compliment Private Sector investment initiatives in these types of projects.  

The 2023 IDF is a critical financing component of the 2023 Action Plan -- a plan which has been endorsed by the most recent conference of the FSM State and National Leaders (SNLC), held in Palikir, Pohnpei.

The required legislative framework to create and commence operations of the 2023 Investment Development Fund had been previously submitted by the President, and is still pending Congressional action.

To view President Mori's transmittal letter in its entirety, please go to the following text:

Transmittal Letter

To view the 2023 Action Plan, which includes the proposed 2023 IDF Framework, please click on the following:

SBOC Website

The 4th National Joint Coordinating Committee held at FSM OEEM

The 4^th National Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) Meeting organized by the Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM) in collaboration with the Japan Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management (J-PRISM), a five-year project under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was held on March 4, 2015 at FSM OEEM Conference Room.

The participants included representatives from Embassy of Japan, JICA, FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM), J-PRISM, FSM Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure (TC&I), Project Management Unit (PMU), FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs (DHSA), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Pohnpei State Environment Protection Agency (EPA), and Pohnpei Waste Management Services (PMWS).  

The main purpose of the meeting focused on the activity progress and on-going developments in the four states in regards to Solid Waste Management efforts, which allowed participants to discuss and exchange ideas on how to manage SWM efforts more effectively at the national and state levels.

With waste management being one of the priorities in the region, the strong commitment to ensure proper disposal and protect the public healthcare are impacted by the improved dumpsites, landfill developments, management of waste collection and operations of disposal systems. Through the J-PRISM project, implementing waste activities and managing waste at the national and state levels have improved.

President Mori vetoes $2.8 million public project funding due to weak planning

Federated States of Micronesia President Manny Mori has vetoed Congressional Act No. 18-123 that would allocate funds to more public projects throughout the FSM.

Congressional Act No. 18-123 is "AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE THE SUM OF $2,800,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND OF THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING PUBLIC PROJECTS AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PEOPLE IN EACH OF THE FOUR STATES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

In his veto message to Speaker Dohsis Halbert, President Mori noted that Congress appropriated the sum of $2,800,000 for public projects and social programs without a public hearing and consultation prior to its enactment.  There has been no committee report that provides the rationale behind the appropriations and no record that contains any information on why it was withdrawn from the assigned committee.

In numerous separate, but similar communications with Congress, President Mori consistently expressed his support for Public Projects and their value and importance to the Nation's continued economic growth.  However, he has also consistently re-iterated the need for transparency, comprehensive project planning and improvements in the accountability process of the Public's limited fiscal resources.  A recently released Public Auditors report similarly outlines and identifies problems in the accountability process and the credibility of expenditure reports from previous Congressional appropriations.

UNOFFICIAL: KOSRAE ELECTION

Four Year Term	Grand Total		Two Year Term	Grand Total
Alik L. Alik	1,704		Paliknoa K. Welly	2,786
Yosiwo P. Geroge	2,315		Rensley A. Sigrah	1,233

UNOFFICIAL OVERALL TOTALS: 2015 CONGRESS ELECTION (POHNPEI)

	ED. 1	ED. 2	ED. 3	Totals	Percentage
Dion G. Neth	201	437	144	782	5.12%
Dionisio Saimon	236	1,1216	127	1,579	10.35%
John Ehsa	932	1,509	1,104	3,545	23.23%
Peter M. Christian	3,585	2,744	2,762	9,091	59.58%
SelestinoMarquez	68	54	140	262	1.72%
				15,259	100.00%

ED. 1	Totals	Percentage
Dohsis Halbert	2,317	46,86%
Ferny S. Perman	2,628	53.14%
	4,945	100.00%

ED. 2	Totals	Percentage
Berney Martin	3,406	56.46%
Goodwin Etse	2,627	43.54%
	6,033	100.00%

 

ED. 3	Totals	Percentage
David W. Panuelo	4,026	100.00%