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Senate committee holds public hearing on bill to expand hunting seasons on Rota
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Summary
The Senate Health, Welfare and Programs Committee held a public hearing May 28 in Rota on Senate Bill 24‑20, the proposed "Hunting Act of 2025," which would add or extend hunting seasons for multiple species; residents testified chiefly in favor citing crop damage, deer overpopulation and local economic benefits. No vote on the bill was taken.
The Senate Health, Welfare and Programs Committee held a public hearing May 28 in Rota on Senate Bill 24‑20, the proposed "Hunting Act of 2025," which would add or extend hunting seasons for several species. The committee heard multiple public comments in favor of expanding hunting opportunities but did not take a final vote on the bill.
The bill’s sponsor outlined draft season dates and species in the committee meeting. Senator Francisco Q. Cruz, chairman of the committee, summarized the proposal as adding seasons and, in some cases, creating year‑round open seasons for certain species. Cruz told the committee the measure would set additional season windows for deer, coconut crab, Philippine turtle dove and land crab and would make several species available year‑round in the draft language. No final statutory text was adopted during the hearing.
Several Rota residents and farmers told the committee they support giving hunters more time to harvest animals, saying deer are damaging crops and hurting farm operations. Ricardo Caso Bercinas, who identified himself for the record, said he supports the bill because of repeated crop losses and told the committee, "if you go further up, guarantee, you plant today, tomorrow is gone." Albert Titano, who said he is a farmer on Rota, told the committee, "I recently just had to forgo my watermelon plantation because it's all damaged from the deer."
Other public speakers urged broader changes. A resident identified as "Goeluk" supported a year‑round license and warned of disease in the deer population, saying, "Every hunter, at least 1 month, will experience 3 deer with no hair." Ivan T. Merritt Jr., who identified himself as a voter and resident, endorsed the bill partly for economic reasons, saying two seasons could attract visitors and create business opportunities, and he asked that the measure respect "the rights of the indigenous people to harvest." The committee chair and staff noted the committee will accept additional written comments from Rota, Tinian and Saipan before final deliberations.
Committee members asked only limited procedural questions during the hearing. Senator Manny Gregory T. Castro recommended that future versions of the measure consider delegating some deer‑population decisions to municipal authorities. No motions to amend or to pass Senate Bill 24‑20 were recorded at the Rota hearing.
Procedural actions taken during the meeting were limited to adopting the day’s agenda and adjourning. The committee invited public comment, closed the hearing after commenters finished, and reminded the public that comment deadlines remain open for hearings on related matters on other islands.
The committee will consider written comments submitted to members and will take up the bill again in future deliberations; no implementation steps or dates were set at the May 28 hearing.
