Faipule ask DOC nominee if HUD funding can be used to purchase fire trucks

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Following a one-hour confirmation hearing in the House yesterday morning for Acting Director of the Department of Commerce (DOC), Petti Tagipo Matila, representatives unanimously approved Matila’s nomination by a vote of 17-0 during the house session.

The confirmation hearing covered several topics consisting mostly of questions on the economy and praise of the nominee for her outstanding service to the government.

House members welcomed Matila’s appointment saying that she’s one of the many sons and daughters of Tutuila and Manu’a who have returned home to serve the people after higher education.

“You are one of the birds of the flock who has returned home to serve and we’re thankful to Governor Lemanu P. S Mauga for selecting you to lead this important department of our government,” Vice Speaker of the House Fetu Fetui said.

Matila appeared before the House Commerce and Economic Committee for her confirmation hearing, which was chaired by committee chairman Rep. Samuel Meleisea Ioka Ale.

One of the topics raised during Matila’s confirmation hearing was the HUD program (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development).

Matila explained that there are three different programs under HUD and many of our people don’t understand the importance of these programs. They are the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program under DOC; the Home Investment Partnership program under the Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) and Emergency Solution program under the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS).

Rep. Lavea Fatulegaee P. Mauga wanted to know if the HUD program can fund a new fire truck for the Fire Division Bureau at the Department of Public Safety. He told the cabinet nominee that the eastern districts continue to face the problem of no fire truck or EMS ambulance to serve its people when it comes to times of emergency.

Matila explained that the HUD program can purchase new fire trucks for the Fire Division. She said that immediately after last year’s accident involving a fire truck, her office received a request from DPS for a new fire truck.

Lavea further asked if the CDBG program can fund other activities and small projects back in the village and the response from the cabinet nominee was, yes — there are programs for “eligible activities” allowed under the program including public facilities and home repairs through affordable home loans.

Matila informed the committee that the CDBG program also received about$1.5 million from the CARES Acts specific for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The nominee received her AA degree from the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) in 2001-2002 before she moved off island to further her education. She received her BA in Political Science, Minor in Business Administration from the University of Arizona from 2003-2005, and her Masters in Public Administration and Policy from the American University in 2017.

Read about other issues covered in her confirmation hearing in this same issue.