It’s a debate about land, heritage, and the choices we make for the future.   A new proposal in the Guam Legislature would open part of mangilaoto quarrying – removing limestone that could bring millions of dollars into the Chamorro Land Trust. Supporters see it as a way to fund long-overdue homestead lots for Chamoru families. Opponents warn it could damage the aquifer, cultural sites, and the natural landscape forever.

At the heart of Bill 7 is a 60-acre cliffside property in Mangilao, known as Lot 5412.  Today, it’s largely inaccessible and undeveloped, but beneath the surface lies valuable limestone  that some seek to turn into aggregate for construction projects. Senator Joe San Agustin believes tapping this resource could help solve one of Guam’s most pressing problems: the decades-long wait for Chamorro Land Trust homestead lots.

“For so long, the Chamorro Land Trust Commissioners worked to lease lots to our island families in the hopes that it will help them build homes or farms that will help their families live better lives," said the veteran policymaker. "Over the last couple years, there have been but a handful of leases issued due to properties not being properly surveyed or other issues that arose.”

He added, “This will help get our CLTC lands leased out to our people while giving the different sectors in government, private, and family achieve different things.”

The bill directs the CLTC to put the project out for competitive bidding.  Companies would have to pay per-ton of rock removed, while also covering the costs of environmental and cultural surveys, cleanup, permits, and infrastructure.  All revenues would be deposited into the Chamorro Land Trust Survey and Infrastructure Fund — dedicated to preparing homestead lots.

Senator San Agustin frames it as a way to create homes, while turning unusable land into a community asset, commenting, “Our people will benefit from much needed infrastructure improvements with the CLTC. Not only will we be opening additional lots for more families to be leased to, but the monies generated from this will assist in providing much needed resources for CLTC to meet their mission.”

But not everyone is convinced. 

Several senators warn the measure is written in a way that could override existing commercial leasing rules – with lasting consequences. “Apparently, this bill is flawed because it didn’t foresee what it would do to commercial licensing," noted Senator Sabina Perez. "It would remove that part of law that CLTC relies on for commercial licensing and only addresses one lot.”

Senator Therese Terlaje added, “It repeals 75122 C2 of Chapter 75 [GCA]. It completely repeals it. It completely repeals competitive bids for commercial leases for the CLTC and in its place for governing all commercial bids and that they mandate that they be competitive and other provisions in here. It just wipes those clean and allows only for the lease of this one lot for this one mineral extraction purpose.”

Environmental safeguards were another sticking point.  Critics questioned whether experts were consulted and whether the fragile limestone terrain could withstand quarrying without endangering Guam’s drinking water.

Terlaje added, “We did not have enough experts during that public hearing. WERI was not there. EPA was not there. BSP Coastal Management was not there. These are experts. We are not experts on how much limestone shall be extracted from this island before you hit sea level or before you lose all the natural filtration for our aquifer."

And beyond science, there is the question of value – whether a price tag can capture the worth of land that holds cultural meaning. Perez said,  “When measured in price alone, we greatly undervalue the soil upon which our people were raised, on which they live and continue to live, and from which they and their culture are nourished.”

“The threats posed by Bill 7-38 towards access to Fadi’an Cove is worth considering, noting its endless worth as both a unique and naturally beautiful location and as a resource to hikers, tourists, fishermen, and to our native people as a whole.”

After two days of debate, senators adopted amendments to strengthen oversight: requiring environmental impact studies, independent appraisals, stricter timelines for homestead delivery, and safeguards to ensure affordability for families. San Agustin supported those changes, saying, “I reviewed all your amendments and I have no reservations or any reluctance to any of them.”

Still, questions remain about the families already living near Lot 5412, who say current quarrying has already harmed their health and homes. Senator Chris Barnett read their testimony on the session floor, announcing, “The family of Antonio Dueñas Cruz, Elaine Cruz Ochoa, the family of Andrew M. Cruz, Cecilia Cruz Alakoa, and Francisco Campos.”

They describe white dust settling on their homes and in the air they breathe, constant blasting of dynamite that shakes their foundations, the loss of trees that once buffered strong Pacific winds, and the destruction of the natural habitats that once sheltered local wildlife.

After two days of debate, Bill 7 now moves forward to the Third Reading File. For families waiting decades for land, the proposed legislation offers hope. For those worried about Guam’s environment and heritage, it raises alarm.

In the end, the legislature must weigh what is gained — and what could be lost — if the project moves ahead.