Apatang, Camacho praise Mt. Tapochao Road improvement project

10/22/2025 – Both know about the hardship in preparing the Mt. Tapochao Road for the annual Good Friday pilgrimage up to Saipan’s highest peak. 

That’s why it was no coincidence that both praised and were actually relieved that the Department of Public Works held the ribbon-cutting for the $9.8-million Mt. Tapochao Road Project last Oct. 21 at the start of the roadway near the old Commerce building on Capitol Hill.

“When I was the mayor for eight years, this road here put us to work. I know how mayor Camacho feels. We spent a lot of man-hours up here. We spent a lot of money repairing this road. The residents up here are always close, complaining about the Mt. Tapochao Road,” said Apatang during his remarks.

Apatang then thanked the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, for the funding that allowed DPW to finally push through with the road-paving project.

“With limited resources, the work of getting the road in drivable condition was really only a temporary fix and had to be done over and over. Getting this road in somewhat good condition was a constant cost. But the mayor's office did it, and motorists, I believe, were content with those frequent temporary road repairs. I remember those annual repairs before Good Friday, where the mayor's office’s manpower and equipment were up here for days, sometimes weeks,” he added.

For his part, Camacho said the Mt. Tapochao Road paving project will lessen not only is the headache whenever Holy Week rolls around, but will also make the roadway safer for everyone.

“This is another big saving for the municipality, you know, because we've been getting a lot of complaints from the residents up here, especially Chalan Galaide. You know, one time during mayor Apatang’s term as mayor, a dump truck flipped over by Chalan Galaide.”

The Mt. Tapochao Road Project will also be a boon to people who call the foothills around the mountain home, he added.

House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez said the project is a long time coming, and aside from the aforementioned benefits stated by Apatang and Camacho, he said paving Mt. Tapochao Road will improve tourist accessibility to one of the CNMI’s crown jewels that provides a 360-degree view of Saipan.

“Although we are facing challenges with our economy and our tourism, this really gives us the opportunity to, like they say, clean our house, fix our house before the visitors come in.”

He then posed a challenge to the contractor, GPPC, Inc.

“I know it says here that the working days target is about 360. I want to challenge GPPC to make it 359,” he said, which was followed by chuckles from the assembled crowd.

DPW Secretary Ray Yumul, who served as emcee, said the road-paving project essentially is the realignment and reconstruction of Route 310 that spans approximately 2.1 miles. 

“It actually begins right behind us and snakes its way all the way up to the peak of Mt. Tapochao. So again, it includes the realignment of the roadway to fit into our right-of-way,” he said. “This will include grading, utility relocation.”

He added that the project will encompass power pole realignment, construction of new pavement sections, drainage systems, signage, striping, and all other items necessary to complete the roadway project.

“We do thank the families of the properties along the road that have signed and agreed to compensation so that we can clear the paving.”

Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas, who Apatang reminded to make the speed limit on Mt. Tapochao Road 25 miles per hour once it’s completed, said the project will make a lot of residents on Mt. Tapochao smile.

“It saves a lot of wear and tear on the people's, the community's vehicles. But again, this thing would not be possible if our governor hadn’t made the push to ensure that these things are in place. And Mr. Mayor, I think now that once this road is done, you don't have to worry about coming back and repairing the road, other than trimming the side of the road,” he said.

GPPC vice president Annie Pagulayan accepted Villagomez’s challenge to finish the project before the 360- working day deadline, which is March 22, 2027.

“We will always be here to help the government. And we assure you that we will do our best to accept the challenge of 359 working days,” she said.

Report by Mark Rabago