Business news roundup

The Journal presents a roundup of varied news of interest to business readers.

Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero wrote to U.S. federal leaders to request the inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program.

She asked that the topic be added to the agenda of the Trilateral Leaders Summit of the U.S., Japan and the Philippines to be held April 11 in Washington, D.C.

In other news from the Philippines, Philippine Air Lines announced it will fly nonstop three times a week between Manila and Seattle Wash., from Oct. 2. The flight is planned to encourage leisure travel between the Philippines and the U.S. Pacific Northwest as well as allow reunions between the 240,000 Filipino Americans in Washington and Oregon and relatives in the Philippines.

Island Cancer Care announced on April 4, its acquisition of The Fourth Generation Varian Halcyon radiotherapy device, designed to achieve high-quality care with more patient comfort and clinician confidence. 

“This innovative treatment platform is the first of its kind in Asia,” Island Cancer Care said. 

Island Cancer Care accepts Medicare, Medicaid and all local insurance plans, the Tamuning facility said.

In other health-related news, The Bureau of Health Care Financing Administration has relocated the Medicaid and Medically Indigent Program Off-Island Referral and Benefit Support Unit to the Castle Mall in Mangilao, as of April 8.

The change is intended to improve accessibility to parking and ground floor access, according to an April 4 release from the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services.
 
The U.S. Department of Labor is calling on construction industry employers in Guam to participate in a survey to help establish accurate prevailing wage rates and reduce the need for contractors to seek additional labor classifications.

Administered by U.S. DOL’s Wage and Hour Division, the survey seeks information about wages and fringe benefits paid to construction workers on residential, building, heavy and highway construction projects in Guam between May 1 and April 30. The survey is not limited to federally funded construction projects and its completion is required by the Davis-Bacon Act and related acts. 

The data collection period begins May 1 and ends on Aug. 1. Employers can complete the survey,  here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction/surveys/status
For questions, or forms, contact the Davis-Bacon Survey Center at (866) 236-2773 or at [email protected]. For more information, register to attend one of two free, online briefings on May 7 and May 9 at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction/surveys/status.

Marianas Finance Corp. in Guam announced April 3 its board of directors declared a dividend of 17¢ per share, during its annual shareholder and board meeting on March 25.

The officers are Phillip Flores, president and chairman; Peter P. “Sonny” Ada, vice president and vice chairman; Terrence M. Brooks, corporate secretary and legal counsel; Frederick Tanaka, assistant secretary; Herbert Johnson Jr., treasurer; Mark O. Fish, vice president of finance; Simon Sanchez II, director; and Michael Benito, director, according to its website.

Carmelita Gogue serves as vice president and general manager of Marianas Finance.

The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority in the Northern Mariana Islands announced the expansion of the Transit CNMI Blue Line 1B fixed route service to include the Northern Marianas College through some parts of As Lito and Dan Dan on Saipan, to commence in April.

With the expansion, NMC students will have expanded options for transportation to and from the As Terlaje campus, at a cost of 50¢ per ride. The general public will also be able to use transportation to and from As Terlaje. mbj