Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has instructed the Dept. of Health to start utilizing two government quarantine facilities behind the Tafuna Community Health Center instead of using other designated quarantine sites once the Tafuna buildings are inspected and equipped with all necessary amenities.

The governor’s verbal directive was made at last Friday’s cabinet meeting after Public Works director Faleosina Voigt gave an update on DPW current projects, which include the two buildings — each able to house up to 20 people. The two projects were visited recently by the ASG coronavirus task force.

Voigt explained that one of the buildings, contracted to Nana’s Constructions was competed last week and the other one is expected to be completed later this week.

If all goes well, Voigt said that by the end of this month, the DoH can come in to check and sanitize the two buildings before they are utilized.

Lolo then instructed Health director, Motusa Tuileama Nua for DoH and other ASG officials to conduct inspection of the two facilities, which are also to be furnished with what’s needed as soon as possible.

He said these DoH quarantine sites, should then be used first, unless they’re full, then travelers can be sent to other designated sites such as Fatuoaiga or the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs building.

According to the governor, specialized workers recruited by ASG and the public sector from Samoa, under the special workers provisions, are expected to start arriving at the end of this month, and these individuals will be housed at these new DoH quarantine centers.

The governor said that there is a delay in getting COVID-19 federal reimbursement and it’s probably because the feds see that these facilities are completed but no one is occupying them.

The governor reiterated to Motusa that these DoH sites are to be used first to house quarantined travelers.

OTHER DPW PROJECTS

Voigt said DPW has a lot of ongoing projects and gave a briefing on the large projects such as those for the Department of Education. In Manu’a, the bid has gone out for the school lunch warehouse, to be located across from the Manu’a High School campus on Ta’u island.  

Also at Manu’a High, is the extension of the school’s gymnasium; while on Tutuila, five major gymnasium projects are in the works: Nu’uuli Vocational Technical High School (NVTHS) for which construction is ongoing; and 4 elementary school gyms already awarded for Leone Midkiff, Lupelele, Manulele and Coleman- Pago Pago.

Voigt explained that there are plans to expand the NVTHS gym to include a cafeteria, kitchen, bathrooms and additional classrooms.

She said there are 5 new school buildings planned — one each for Alataua Lua Elementary,  Pavaiai Elementary, Matafao Elementary, Samoana High, and Fagaitua High.

For major renovations, she said improvements are planned for the Leone High cafeteria as well as one at the American Samoa Community College.

Among major ASG building projects is the two-story warehouse at Faleasao — which is 70% completed and  a joint project between DPW and Port Administration — and the planned new court building to be erected at the current site of the old communications building in Fagatogo that will be taken down soon. (See yesterday’s edition on the new court building.)

Voigt also shared brief information on road projects, including two major federally funded projects at Malaeloa and Tualauta.

ASG projects to be dedicated soon include the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) compound, next to the Territorial Correctional Facility in Tafuna; the Sogelau development next to the Jean P. Hayden Museum in Fagatogo, and the Suigaula projects, which include an extension of the Fale Samoa, and seven new small faleo’o.