Colonia, Yap - On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the Honorable Governor Charles Chieng convened a cabinet meeting with his esteemed cabinet members to review and discuss various plans, projects, and reports about their respective departments and offices. The meeting commenced promptly at 10:00 AM and concluded at 11:30 AM.
Attendees included five department and office representatives and two directors, marking this as the end-of-the-month cabinet meeting. Each department provided comprehensive updates on their ongoing and upcoming agendas, fostering a collaborative environment where members could stay informed about each other's progress and initiatives.
Key discussions during the meeting included:
Department of Administrative Services: No updates or reports were made during the meeting.
Department of Youth and Civics Affairs: HPO projects are set to finish before the fiscal year ends, FestPAC delegation has returned, Japan Exchange Group is preparing for their visit, and the Election Office scheduled a tabulation for June 21, 2024, regarding the recent voting on reviewing Yap’s political status.
Department of Planning and Budget: The 2024 budget is complete, with discussions ongoing for the FY25 budget. The JEMCO is scheduled for June, with a focus on health and education. The Ganir Bridge faces finance and CTIS issues.
Department of Resources and Development: The department is focusing on marine resources, land resources, workforce enhancement, ANG Program, DYCA Training, job announcements, agriculture, business regulation, foreign assistance, media updates, website organization, and consumer protection. They are moving into a new location, surveying land, and implementing programs like ANG. They are also monitoring waste and promoting sustainable practices. Plans for agricultural development, including new farming techniques and sustainability projects. Initiatives for environmental conservation, waste management improvements, and renewable energy projects
Department of Education: The director is in Pohnpei, preparing for registration and teacher workshops, with funding for Coastguard students. The annual AA Outlook predicts high temperatures. Reports on teacher workshops happening in the summer and a newsletter being put out at the end of the month.
Department of Public Works & Transportation: Progress on infrastructure projects, including road maintenance and new construction plans. Sea transport, airport handling, dredging projects, contract and engineering, ARFF training, Wolei Airport hazard stage, and tilting certification are all ongoing tasks with Chuuk and Yap involved.
Department of Health Services: Updates on public health initiatives, vaccination drives, and hospital upgrades. Funding shortfall affects services, pending referrals. Eight staff members, including part-time doctor, treat 1,243 outpatients in May. Outpatient treatment is ongoing, with ongoing data management training.
The meeting concluded with a briefing by the Lieutenant Governor, who provided crucial updates from the national government, ensuring alignment and coordination with broader governmental policies and strategies.
(For more information, please contact the Governor’s Office at (691) 350-2108 or DYCA at (691) 350–2168. Thank you for your attention.)
