Senator Shawn Gumataotao has introduced Bill 183-38 (COR) to give the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA) an additional two years to develop a Customs Satellite Inspection, Holding, and Secured Sterile Facility in Piti. The measure would extend the agency’s current July 2026 deadline to 2028, allowing more time to secure financing and begin construction mandated by Public Law 34-112.
The land in Parcel 1-3 of Piti was first set aside in 2018 for the facility, but CQA has faced challenges meeting deadlines under the law, which initially required the property to revert to government control if it remained undeveloped. Lawmakers granted a five-year extension in 2021 through Public Law 36-12. The new bill acknowledges continued delays and the need for added planning time.
According to CQA, a Container Inspection Facility Working Group established in 2024 oversees design, operational needs, equipment and future growth for the agency. The working group is also tasked with exploring all financing options to fund the construction and long-term sustainability of the facility.
“With the amended deadline of July 2026 quickly approaching … Bill No. 183-38 (COR) if approved provides the agency and CIF Working Group with additional time to secure financing options and finalize facility layouts and cargo flow plans,” Gumataotao said. He added the facility is vital as a “frontline defense against the illegal movement of weapons, drugs, and other contraband into Guam and neighboring islands in Micronesia.”