Senate committee holds public hearing on Lilio B. Tipplis' renomination to Professional Licensing Board

The Senate Standing Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations on Wednesday held a public hearing on the renomination of Lilio B. Tipplis to the Board of Professional Licensing to represent Saipan.

The hearing opened at about 9:42 a.m. and included a brief introduction by Jean Paul B. Regis, acting special assistant to the governor, who described Tipplis as having “a remarkable professional history” and urged the committee’s favorable consideration. Tipplis told the committee he holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Western Institute of Technology (Philippines), is a registered civil engineer and a certified general real-property appraiser, and founded LBT Appraisal in 2005.

The panel heard support from sitting Board of Professional Licensing (BPL) members. Elizabeth Salas Balahaja, vice chair of the board, spoke in favor of the renomination and said the board had submitted a written letter of support. Dan V. Magnolia, who also identified himself as a BPL vice chair, recommended Tipplis’s confirmation and said, “he has the demonstrated expertise, fair judgment, and excellent character to continue serving on the board.” Written letters of support were also filed by Esther S. Fleming (BPL executive director), Gregorio Q. Castro (BPL chairman), and Giovano Titano.

Much of the committee’s questioning focused on appraisal practice, data availability and enforcement. Senator Corina Magoffna asked Tipplis to explain the role of a certified general appraiser; Tipplis described appraisals as “an opinion of value provided competently in an objective, fair, impartial manner,” based primarily on market data and comparable sales, and noted that appraisers use multiple approaches — sales-comparison, income and cost — as applicable.

Committee members pressed on data limitations in the CNMI. Tipplis said appraisers rely primarily on the recorder’s office for transaction data, supplementing records with field verification and contacts with market participants when possible. He and senators agreed the jurisdiction lacks a centralized, standardized dataset for property transactions, which complicates comparable-based valuation on smaller markets such as Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Senators and BPL members also discussed enforcement capacity. Balahaja told the committee the board had an investigator until that staff member died about four years ago and that the position remained vacant and unfunded; she said complaint work has been routed to the Attorney General’s office in the interim. The committee reviewed language from the BPL citizen-centric report noting the board’s mission “to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare” and that the absence of an investigator limits on-site inspections and complaint investigations.

Tipplis described regulatory work he has contributed to the appraisal rules: “In January and July 2023 I assisted with amendments to the existing appraisal regulations,” which the transcript shows were adopted July 28, 2023. Senators asked about continuing education and training: Tipplis said certified general appraisers in the CNMI renew every two years and that appraisers must complete 28 continuing-education credit hours for renewal.

Committee members urged the board to pursue workforce development and outreach. Tipplis suggested partnering with local colleges to develop appraisal coursework to grow a local pipeline; senators noted the College of Northern Marianas (NMC) and its testing center as possible partners. Members also discussed budget items: senators said the proposed next fiscal year budget includes funding for an investigator position and encouraged the administration and BPL to fill the post as soon as feasible.

No final confirmation vote on the nomination was taken during the hearing; the committee received oral testimony and three written statements in support and said those materials will be included in the committee’s recommendation report to the full Senate. The hearing record reflected no written opposition.

Two procedural motions were recorded during the session: a motion to adopt the committee agenda, which was seconded and carried by voice vote, and a motion to adjourn at the close of the hearing, which likewise carried.

The committee will forward its recommendation, the oral record and the submitted written testimonies to the full Senate for consideration of confirmation.