NGERULMUD, Palau — The House of Delegates has approved House Bill 12-2-1 HD1, which establishes a new Ministry of Interior, with a vote of 13-2 on its third and final reading.
While the proposed ministry will consolidate several government agencies, much of the debate during Friday’s session focused on its role in overseeing Palau’s climate change initiatives. Although many delegates backed the bill, some questioned the necessity of a separate ministry and whether it would effectively streamline government functions.
Debate Over Climate Change Oversight
Delegate Nace Soalablai raised concerns about the need for a new ministry, pointing to a past decision by President Surangel Whipps Jr. In his previous administration, Whipps renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE).
Citing a letter from Whipps last year, Soalablai said, “The president stated that MAFE can address climate change through mitigation and adaptation. Yet, just five months later, he issued an executive order that included climate change responsibilities in this new ministry.” He suggested that instead of creating an entirely new ministry, the government should establish a Bureau of Climate Change within MAFE.
Delegate Portia Franz-Kesolei also voiced concerns about the bill’s structure, particularly regarding coordination between ministries. “Section 6 of Page 3 includes domestic administrative affairs within this new ministry’s functions. But the Ministry of State will still handle relations between the national and state governments,” he said. “I worry that separating these responsibilities between two ministries might create inefficiencies.”
Support for Streamlining Government Functions
Despite these concerns, most delegates supported the bill, arguing that consolidating key government agencies under a single ministry would improve efficiency and provide better access to resources for state governments.
President Whipps had announced his intention to propose a Ministry of Interior in his inaugural address. The new ministry is expected to oversee several government functions, including cultural preservation, emergency management, meteorological services, and public records maintenance.
Now that the House has passed the bill, it will move to the Senate for further consideration. (By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang)