Adelup disappointed with final NDAA

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - For the Calvo Administration, they say the writing has been on the wall for quite some time and today's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act wasn't surprising. Governor's chief of staff Frank Arriola says they are disappointed but not discouraged saying the buildup is far from over.

"This buildup is going to move forward there is no question about that it's about the scale and scope, the size of it. We're in discussions with various stakeholders at DOD and they're telling us is that in the immediate future they're going to make some plans and adjustments to address what Congress is asking but they believe that the military will move forward," he said.

Arriola would not confirm if a teleconference between the governor and the Defense Department this morning was related to the buildup but said it was good news. 

Meanwhile Minority Leader Senator Frank Blas, Jr. also expressed his disappointment saying he had hoped that with Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's involvement on the conference committee, Guam's issues would have gotten better attention. "I still think there's an opportunity for us to be able to save this buildup and looking at working with the Department of Defense to provide the information necessary for the Senate to recognize that this is not just good for Guam but for the stability of the region and the defense of the nation," he said.

Blas says elected leaders will now have to make a concerted effort to show that Guam is the best place for the buildup as well as address concerns from the Senate.