Embedded Files
05/07/2025—The CNMI Department of Public Lands has received two proposals for the Mañagaha Island concession, with additional public land leases for Kanoa Resort and Rota Resort & Country Club expected to go up for bid soon.
DPL acting secretary Sixto K. Igisomar confirmed that the deadline for the Mañagaha Island Request for Proposals (RFP) was 11am on Tuesday, with two bids submitted. The iconic islet off the western coast of Saipan is currently managed by DPL following the departure of former concessionaire Marianas Global Inc., whose lease dispute remains in court.
“Absent an operator for that concession, people are still going to Mañagaha,” Igisomar told Marianas Press. “We can’t tell people not to visit, so we step in and manage it to ensure the island is kept clean.”
Kanoa Resort will also be up for public bidding soon. Igisomar revealed that Asia Pacific Hotel Inc., which holds the lease, has formally indicated it will not seek to renew it. The public lease of the Chalan Kanoa property is set to expire this month.
“They’ve already stated that they’re not renewing,” said Igisomar. “We’re finalizing the RFP for release by June to seek an investor who can take over the property and its assets.”
He noted that although Kanoa was repurposed as a COVID-19 quarantine site at the height of the pandemic, the facility remains best suited for hospitality-related uses.
“Most likely it will continue as a hotel, or a variation of tourism-related business that can utilize the existing structure,” he added.
A month after the Kanoa Resort RFP is launched, DPL is planning to release another one for Rota Resort & Country Club, which has been inactive for months after the previous leaseholder reportedly abandoned the property and failed to pay rent.
“There was an RFP that was canceled due to disqualification,” Igisomar said. “Now, the site is vacant, and our team has been directed to at least secure and safeguard the area.”
Igisomar also addressed mounting public concern over a proposed $220-million lease by E-Land Corp. for the former Mariana Resort & Spa property in San Roque. The Korean conglomerate has come under fire after recent layoffs at its other properties, Pacific Islands Club Saipan and Kensington Hotel.
“Of course, I understand where the public is coming from,” Igisomar said. “We have companies in the CNMI—E-Land being one—making announcements of closures and layoffs.”
He noted that the lease proposal is currently under review by the Legislature. “We wait for feedback from them. Discussions on E-Land’s financial viability, RFP capacity, and current operations are all part of the vetting process.”
Igisomar emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and lease agreements in sustaining the Department of Public Lands.
“All the funds we aggregate bring us close to $5 million in annual revenue,” he said. “That revenue—primarily from land leases and Temporary Occupancy Agreements—pays for the operations of the department.”
As DPL navigates the next phase of land development, Igisomar said the goal remains clear: ensure that public lands are used responsibly and continue to bring long-term economic benefits to the Commonwealth.
When asked about his upcoming confirmation hearing at the Senate, Igisomar said he will leave his fate to the senators while still continuing to diligently work as the head of DPL, which he is spearheading for a second time. Igisomar was appointed acting secretary after the abrupt resignation of former DPL secretary Teresita Santos last March.
By Mark Rabago
Report abuse