SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands — Independent gubernatorial candidate Lawrence Camacho said the Filipino community will play an important role in the Commonwealth's future, describing it as a vital contributor to the CNMI economy. He pledged that if elected, his administration would continue engaging with Filipinos alongside other sectors of society.
His running mate, Edith Deleon Guerrero, echoed that message, saying the campaign wanted to hear firsthand the concerns of Filipino residents because "it's really what's affecting our people every day, and that's what we want to hear from them." She added that "everybody is important to us," and the campaign intends to meet with all sectors throughout the election season.
The significance of the Filipino electorate was underscored during the forum by businessman Mar Masilungan, who described Filipino voters as the CNMI's "swing vote" and urged candidates to maintain an open dialogue with the community beyond the election campaign.
"We're the swing vote. We can make you win," Masilungan said, while encouraging Camacho to continue holding town hall meetings with Filipinos if elected.
There are over 15,000 Filipinos in CNMI, which has a population of over 42,000.
Camacho said the meet-and-greet at Bravo Kitchen in Garapan last June 27 was organized after members of the Filipino community sought an opportunity to engage directly with the independent ticket.
"The way I operate and the way she and I have been talking is that every sector of the community is important," Camacho said. "Every sector of the community can reach out to us. We would love to reach out to all the sectors as well."
He also credited Filipinos with helping build the Commonwealth's economy.
"This community... has contributed so much to the economy, to the Commonwealth," Camacho said. "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for a lot of the hard work that our people... had worked alongside the Filipino community."
The discussion covered a range of issues affecting Filipinos and other residents, including the future of the Commonwealth-Only Transitional Worker program, Employment Authorization Documents for longtime foreign workers, the proposed Guam-CNMI visa waiver for Filipino travelers, and strategies to revive the economy following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Much of the conversation focused on labor, immigration and economic recovery.
Masilungan, who is a member of the CNMI Governor's Council of Economic Advisers, urged local leaders to pursue more permanent immigration solutions for longtime foreign workers instead of another extension of the CW program. He argued that many Filipino workers have spent decades in the CNMI, raised families and deserve an opportunity to obtain more permanent legal status, while also raising concerns about delays in Employment Authorization Document processing.
Camacho, who described himself as "a rancher and scholar," said he believes his background gives him a practical perspective on solving the Commonwealth's challenges.
The candidates also voiced support for continued discussions with the US government on a visa waiver for Filipino citizens traveling between the Philippines, Guam and the CNMI, while acknowledging immigration policy ultimately rests with federal authorities. They also outlined broad priorities for economic recovery, including restoring investor confidence, improving infrastructure and strengthening tourism and agriculture.
