APIL congratulates Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso as new FSM Senator-Elect
20th April, 2023
APIL Resolution No. 62-BOD-04: Expressing the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures’ genuine congratulations to Merlynn Abello Alfonso M.D. on becoming the first Pohnpeian woman elected to the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia.
WHEREAS, on March 7, 2023, the FSM National Government held its 1 Congressional Election; and 2 WHEREAS, the State of Pohnpei has four members in the Congress of the FSM, a 3 representative from each of the three Election Districts and one elected At-Large; and
WHEREAS¸ Election District 1 of Pohnpei is comprised of Sokehs, Kolonia, 5 Sapwuahfik, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso has earned trust of the people of Election 7 District 1, as evident in her winning the senatorial race of Election District 1;
WHEREAS, prior to her election, Senator-Elect Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso 9 served as the Owner and Vice President of the Genesis Corporation; and 10
WHEREAS, in July 2003 under her leadership, Genesis expanded their medical 11 services to include inpatient services, surgical services, maternal delivery, and 12 gynecological services, consequently altering the brand name from “Genesis” to “Genesis 13 Hospital and Pharmacy”; and
WHEREAS, from September 2013 to December 2016, Dr. Merlynn Abello 15 Alfonso served as the Honorary Consul of the Philippines to the Federated States of 16 Micronesia; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, due to Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso’s great effort and 1 contributions to society, she earned the Outstanding Alumni Award for Community Service by West Visayas State University Alumni Association, College of Medicine in 3 Iloilo City, Philippines; and
WHEREAS, in February 2020, Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso was named one of the 5 top two inspirational woman in the FSM Inspirational Women Video; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso is now the very first Pohnpeian woman 7 elected to the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia and the second overall 8 woman in the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia right after Senator Perpetua 9 Konman M.D. of Chuuk, who have been re-elected to serve another term in the FSM 10 Congress; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Association of 12 Pacific Island Legislatures, 62nd Board of Directors Meeting, April 5-6, 2023, FSM State 13 of Kosrae, that the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Association of Pacific Island 14 Legislatures, hereby congratulates Senator-Elect Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso on 15 becoming the first Pohnpeian woman in the Congress of Federated States of Micronesia;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the APIL President shall certify, and the 18 APIL Secretary shall attest to the adoption hereof and that copies of the same 19 shall be thereafter transmitted to Senator-Elect Dr. Merlynn Abello Alfonso, to the 20 Speaker of the 23rd Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Tenth 21
ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC ISLAND LEGISLATURES Resolution No. 62-BOD-04
President of the Federated States of Micronesia upon their selection in May of 2023, and 1 to the Chief Executive and Legislative Presiding Officers of each member jurisdiction of 2 the APIL. 3
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED ON THE 6TH DAY OF APRIL, 2023.
NELSON STEPHEN TESSIE ERIA LAMBOURNE
PRESIDENT SECRETARY