By Tina Rose Muña Barnes
I’m getting a troubling sense of déjà vu over the abandoned headquarters of the Department of Public Health and Social Services.
By the end of November, it will be five years since it was shut down due to an electrical fire.
And looking at this government’s record to rebuild John F. Kennedy High School, or reopen the Haganta Pool, or choose the site of a new hospital let alone begin to build one, or to replace Simon Sanchez High School’s unsafe facilities. Without trying something different, we may be waiting five, 10, or even 15 years more before Public Health actually returns to its headquarters.
That is why I’ve been so passionate about moving Bill 221-37 forward, a measure that will take advantage of a construction project with funding readily available to the Guam Community College.
The approach proposed in this legislation will have a dual benefit to GCC, which will be able to expand its health care programs, and to DPHSS, which will be allowed to share the facility for its own clinical and administrative programs.
But I completely acknowledge that a conflict has arisen, and that concerns have been raised about this measure. And I’m always happy to be given the chance to bridge this divide between reasonable people who may have a difference of opinion.
I think we can all agree we want the Department of Public Health and Social Services to have a healthy presence in Mangilao again.
That shared goal is at the very heart of Bill 221.
I think we can also all agree that the department’s former headquarters has been sitting idle. I know DPHSS staff have been going above and beyond to make sure this building isn’t being completely ignored, but it certainly hasn’t gotten any better since it shut down in November 2019.
Yes, there has not been a full-blown inspection of that building, but a Request for Proposal for this work has been published.
But in the meantime, I trust the preliminary findings from our experts at the Department of Public Works and the Guam Fire Department.
GFD Battalion Chief Chief Ronald Castro, based on an inspection conducted on November 27, 2019, reported major electrical and structural repairs are needed. The fire department observed flooding on multiple floors and signs of burnt outlets. Chief Castro categorized the overall damage as “extensive” due to the leaking roof and electrical work needed.
DPW Deputy Director Linda Ybanez was on site during one of DPW’s visits to the Mangilao building. And according to her, DPW has already noted “a lot of mold,” damage to electrical and HVAC systems, and repairs needed for the shell of the building, which is supposed to also serve as a fallout shelter.
And so far, there hasn’t been any money identified by the legislature or by the executive branch to repair, renovate, or reconstruct that building.
So here is where the solution proposed by Bill 221 comes in.
GCC has repeatedly assured our office that it has grants and loans at its disposal to breathe new life into this property.
In a meeting between GCC President Mary Okada and the head of DPHSS’ employees association, Dr. Okada confirmed that administrative offices, clinical programs, and social services run by DPHSS can be co-located at an annex paid for by GCC, as long as coordination is completed before GCC seeks financing.
Dr. Okada committed to working to allow the co-location of DPHSS offices, divisions, programs and services as it did when constructing the Guam Police Department DNA laboratory on its campus.
All GCC needs is government approval for it to use the site for their proposed construction project.
In closing, I want to thank Dr. Okada for not abandoning this effort, and wanting to continue this win-win for GCC and DPHSS.
I also want to thank GFD and DPW for providing our office with updates on their involvement with this property, as it is critical to publicly disclose what damage has been observed so far.
And lastly, and most importantly, I want to thank the staff and management of DPHSS.
I understand your frustration at being forced to separate, scatter, and downsize without a plan for years and years to get you back to home base.
I understand you wanting to protect your interest in this property, and the valid feelings attached to a place where many of you grew professionally, and where many of us on this island grew up.
And I would never move forward with a bill that ignores your frustrations and dismisses your feelings.
I’m asking us all to trust that we can team up with the best builder in the government of Guam to get to this win-win solution we all want for DPHSS.
Let’s give GCC the chance to do what it is the best government agency at: building.
Let’s commit to collaborating along the way, and making sure this brand-new facility benefits GCC and its students, DPHSS and its clients, and all the families in Mangilao, Barrigada, Mongmong, Toto, Maite, Chalan Pago, Ordot, and Yona who deserve government services closer to where they live.
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Tina Rose Muña Barnes is currently serving her ninth term in the Guam Legislature and is its vice speaker. She began her public service more than 40 years ago.
2 Comments
Christopher Dennis
10/20/2024 at 4:59 AM
GCC and Mary Okada are turning an Institution of Higher Learning into a “Commercial Space Center.” But this is no surprise as Mary Okada has little to no experience in the classroom. She got a last minute doctorate that is ED-Related perhaps to validate her role. One thing is for sure, many of GCC’s Best Faculty and Administrators have left or even died on the job, perhaps “Suicide by Career.” GCC is a microcosm of it’s President, It’s all about he ‘Book Cover’ or ‘Image” over substance. I guess the buildings justify all the ‘Frequent Flier Miles” that she racked up. Kalan ‘Hope Diamond” status. probably, hasn’t seen past the 10th row in decades. Ask about the Okudu Culinary issue of , Get back on island before the media finds out” when the Ukudu Culinary Students went to the media cause there was . No Budget for Students to Compete, yet Mary Okada was ‘Off-Island” Hypocrisy is rampant there now, hence the high stress from all the pretentiousness and dwindling enrollment and morale!
Christopher Dennis
10/22/2024 at 10:26 AM
Hey it made it through the filters. Am I “Sour Grapes’? F’n yeah cause like when I was talking to 2 other teachers at my 30th Reunion, which the one I graduated with passed unfortunately. Point, they were ‘Bitching’ about the system, and when there was a pause, I said, “It hurts when you care.” If you are an “Educator” in “The System” I am confident you can relate casue they did with just eyes down and a head nod! Teachers spend more time than any other person and your kids brain doesn’t fully develop till around 25 according to hubermanlab podcast. Do you really want ‘Jaded’ people in swawler that you would be ashamed if it was your house as a Ricch Gov-Guam Employee around your children during this crucial time in their bran development?