What’s next for the shuttered Public Health building in Mangilao? Joint discussions got underway today on two bills hoping to answer that very question.

The plans for the dormant central headquarters in Mangilao saw two bills offering different futures for the facility, which closed five years ago due to an electrical fire. Senator Therese Terlaje’s Bill 12 aims to keep the property under Public Health, allowing a memorandum of agreement with the Guam Community College's nursing program.

“The bill also allows that the property can be used as the Guam Community Health Centers program," the senator said. “If Public Health does not want to use the building for a clinic itself, then they will be able to open those health centers for the people of Guam.”

Additionally, Senator Tina Muna Barnes’s Bill 21 seeks to transfer the property to GCC for a nursing annex and allocates $350,000 for a construction planning study for conversion. “Let’s give GCC the chance to take this project to the finish line," Barnes said. "Let’s commit to stay close and make sure this brand new facility benefits GCC and its students, DPHSS and its clients.”

Still, key questions like if the building is occupiable remain, as the building assessment is ongoing. 

GCC president Dr. Mary Okada testified that it would be prudent for the college to hold out for the results of that assessment. But on Bill 21, agrees ownership of the property is crucial, as she said, “Without this, it would not be in the best interest of the college to pursue any grant funding or financing.”

In the meantime, Public Health director Therese Arriola wants the lot to be reserved to be consistent with the purpose of a diagnostic and treatment facility, as the Mangilao building housed specialty clinics. Adding, the agency needs government financial support, as infrastructure grants are usually restricted to program requirements. 

She also raised multiple concerns, including that an MOA with GCC may not allow the college to secure funds for construction. “The department...offers the concept of a shared approach for the use of the Mangilao central location and recommends to combine aspects of Bill 21 and 12," Arriola stated. “DPHSS strongly recommends that the facility assessment currently being conducted be completed, and its recommendation drives the future path of the current Public Health central facility.”

For the time being, the final assessment report for the Mangilao facility for Phase 1 is due July 18.