Brief Chat
How safe are we on Guam ? That ’ s the question that keeps coming up , right ?” said Melissa Savares , mayor of Dededo .
A linchpin to U . S . homeland defense , Guam is a magnet for China ’ s offense .
Despite the U . S . military ’ s repeated reassurances that Guam is adequately equipped to confront any potential conflict , Savares can ’ t just shake off her apprehensions . “ That ’ s always going to be a concern because we live here . We are residents of Guam . We ’ re not going to move because of this ,” she said .
During the open house organized by the Missile Defense Agency at the Dededo Community Center on July 25 , Savares tried to absorb the scope of the proposed flight tests for the Guam missile defense system , weighing the conflicting sense of security and uncertainty . “ Of course , they have done it in the past . There have been tests in different countries ,” she said . “ But what if it backfires ?”
As the mayor of Guam ’ s most populated village with 44,900 people , Savares has a lot to think about . Her village is home to the military ’ s third installation on island , the Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz , which will be home to 5,000 Marines and approximately 9,000 dependents , who will be relocated from Okinawa . The first tranche of the Marines is scheduled to arrive by the end of the year , around the same time the first flight test for the missile defense system is proposed to launch .
Topping her concerns is the housing situation . The increased military presence on Guam has influenced the real estate market , jacking up rental home prices and pushing home purchases beyond affordable for most island residents .
“ For a first-time homeowner , just a two-bedroom being sold here in our village costs over $ 200,000 . New homeowners can ’ t afford that ,” said Savares , who has been the village ’ s mayor since 2004 .
“ Young homeowners have to go on some kind of housing subsidy — unless you have a very good job . But even the
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Melissa Savares , Dededo mayor On preparation and fatalism By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
“ If we ’ re going to build downwards , a bunker , a shelter , instead of a home for us to live , then that will defeat the purpose of us choosing to live here on Guam as our primary home .”
educated people who have their master ’ s degrees sometimes can ’ t get the job that they want . So to make that kind of income to buy a $ 400,000 or $ 500,000 home is almost impossible ,” she added .
The possibility of another war is painful to visualize , Savares said . Where do residents run for cover in the event of a missile attack that may evade interception ? There are no bomb shelters on Guam .
“ That ’ s a discussion that we ’ ve had in our community . I hear residents talking about building shelters on their properties ,” she said . “ They can build at least an 8x8 shelter just for them and their families to go into . But can we really afford to do that ?”
With her own family to think about as well , Savares contemplates building an underground basement on the side of her house .
But at this point , the mayor said , preparing for survival is a luxury that competes with the residents ’ immediate needs to live . “ I mean , families are building homes so they can live together or live in an affordable house ,” she said . “ And if we ’ re going to build downwards , a bunker , a shelter , instead of a home for us to live in , then that will defeat the purpose of us choosing to live here on Guam as our primary home .”
There are only a few remaining WWII survivors who might have learned how to navigate the aftermath of war . For the current generation , it ’ s unchartered territory . Guam residents just have to learn what to do in the face of lingering threats . “ There ’ s no guarantee on anything ,” Savares said .
Guam has had a safety drill of sorts when North Korea threatened to bomb the island in 2017 . “ You ’ re just supposed to shelter in place . You have 14 minutes to hurry up to run into a building ,” Savares said . “ I want my grandchildren to live for a longer time so they can enjoy what we ’ ve had the opportunity to enjoy .”
Guam officials have claimed that the island ’ s concrete buildings can provide safety shelters . “ But are we really protected ? We don ’ t know ,” Savares said .
Amid her misgivings , Savares seeks to comfort herself with the thought that the U . S . won ’ t allow Guam to be annihilated . “ They have partners and alliances within the region , in parts of Asia ,” she said . “ Before the enemy could reach the island , the military has the Seventh Fleet out there to protect us .”
And if protection is not guaranteed ? Savares resorts to the islander ’ s fatalism . “ We leave it up to God . Yeah , that ’ s pretty much our drama ,” she said .