Legislative Health Chair Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane defended her vote against Bill No. 1 (5-S), saying the measure lacked transparency and raised legal concerns despite the governor’s warning that $104 million in federal funds could be lost. The bill, debated during a special session on Nov. 25, sought to authorize utility infrastructure installation in Mangilao to support the governor’s proposed new hospital using American Rescue Plan Act funding but was voted down by 10 senators.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, in a recent video address, urged lawmakers to act quickly, saying the upgrades for water, power and sewage would benefit residents of Mangilao, Barrigada, Chalan Pago and Yona. She said the only obstacle to moving the projects forward is the attorney general’s refusal to conduct contract review, adding that a recent Superior Court ruling involving GHURA does not affect the lot intended for the hospital utilities. “Every day we wait increases the risk that this $104 million… could be taken back by the federal government,” she said.
During the special session, senators convened a Committee of the Whole to question officials from DOA, BBMR, GHURA and GEDA on procurement and contract issues. Matanane said GPA and GWA, the agencies central to the bill, declined to participate. She argued the legislation would bypass required legal review by the Office of the Attorney General at a time when several procurement-related lawsuits remain unresolved.
Matanane said she supports building a new hospital but refused to “be bullied into supporting a bill” she felt created more confusion than clarity. She called for collaboration between the governor, attorney general and Legislature to safeguard funds while ensuring proper oversight. “No more power struggles. No more grandstanding,” she said. “Let’s save lives, not face.”