Through an executive order, which became effective on Jan. 4, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga established the Office of Manu’a Operations, or OMO, its director is appointed by the governor. Additionally, the ASG agency is under the auspices of the Governor’s Office.

However, it was unclear last Friday, when the executive order was released by the Governor’s Office, who has been appointed as the director of the new agency, which will have its headquarters on Ta’u island with an office on Ofu island. It’s expected the Governor’s Office will provide funding for OMO for the rest of current fiscal year 2017 that ends Sept. 30, 2017.

According to the preamble of the six-page executive order, ASG has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure in the Manu’a island group, where the government has already established offices.

The “social and economic development of the Manu’a should be accelerated after 112 years of neglect and non-activity,” the governor said in the executive order. He identifies the systems that must continue to be enhanced and are essential to Manu’a’s development.

Among the duties, responsibilities and functions of OMO is to ensure that all ASG authorities, departments, and offices’ programs for Manu’a are implemented, compliant with the policies.

Regarding the use of ASG vehicles, Lolo says policies articulated and implemented on Tutuila for use of ASG vehicles are implemented in Manu’a.

“Government vehicles shall be used for government functions and activities only and they will not be used for personal use or for transportation of family members,” the governor emphasized.

On the issue of ASG personnel, the governor points out that the policy is that any employee hired to work in Manu’a must be physically located on Manu’a. Additionally, first employment preference shall be accorded to current Manu’a residents.

Regarding capital improvement projects in Manu’a, the governor made clear that OMO will ensure that appropriate monitoring of such projects and the OMO director is charged with monitoring the projects.

According to the governor OMO will work with departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Marine and Wildlife Resources as well as the American Samoa Visitors Industry board to forge implementation of programs and projects to advance the viability “of our economic goals inherent in the development of agriculture, fisheries, tourism processing and manufacturing of indigenous products.”

OMO will also collaborate with DOC, the Development Bank of American Samoa and the Territorial Bank of American Samoa to promote the development of private sector businesses in the Manu’a islands.

The governor said OMO will develop with Public Works Department terms of the two ASG gas stations on Ta’u and Ofu islands so that vehicle fuel doesn’t run out, business hours are maintained, funds are collected, secured and transmitted to the ASG Treasury Department. OMO is also responsible for the use of fuel and reporting to DPW.

According to the governor, it shall be necessary for OMO to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with all government agencies with offices in Manu’a detailing cooperative and supportive terms and conditions particular to the monitoring and follow up of agency projects so as to improve collaboration and avoid any confusion for employees of the respective agencies having office presence in Manu’a.

The MOU will also define the administrative relationship OMO will exercise with the respective agencies with presences on Manu’a.