by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The Department of Public Works wants to set the record straight. It was on Thursday Speaker Judi Won Pat's office issued a press release regarding Senator Chris Duenas' 'Bucks for Busses' bill that would cut senators salaries and give the savings to benefit the ailing DPW bus fleet. Superintendent of transportation and maintenance Paul Cepeda says he may have been misunderstood as the press release suggests that DPW doesn't want the additional funding from the proposed legislation.

"We never turn down funds we can use the funds if we need to use it to help bus operations or whatever needs they have for their division we would be happy for it help, but I never meant that I was going to turn the funds down. I said we would utilize the funds but it might be a difficult task to finish all of it at one time because we have only close to 15 days before the fiscal year ends, which is August 31, and the last day we can process any requisitions for anything under $15,000. For anything over $15,000, the deadline has passed," he said.

Cepeda also wants to clarify that he is the superintendent of transportation and maintenance and that won pat's office should've also consulted DPW's superintendent of bus operations, Frank Taitano. Cepeda plans on testifying at the Bucks for Busses public hearing, which Speaker Won Pat has finally scheduled for Monday, August 20 at 5pm in the Legislature's Public Hearing Room. Cepeda is in favor of the bill on the condition that the money is able to rollover to the upcoming fiscal year.

We should note the hearing is scheduled on the same day that school is scheduled to start.