Transports department launches strategy

Caption:  Secretary Mumu (Right) handing the Strategy to Minister Pala


By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 4, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



THE Department of Transport finally launched its long awaited National Transport Strategy (NTS) documents at the National Parliament State Function Room, in Port Moresby, last week.

Transport Minister Ano Pala, received the plan on behalf of the government from his Secretary, Roy Mumu in a symbolic ceremony.

In his address, the minister, referred that the direction of strategy was in line with a key feature in the Alotau accord, which was to improve the delivery of transport infrastructure and transport services- with the view of improving the social and economic outcomes for the nation.

The NTS is comprised of three volumes-the first being the Strategic Summary, which is a brief version of the strategy, providing overarching principles and common policies- It is a ready reference of why we are doing what we do at a policy level.

Volume two is the Medium Term Transport Plan – it is 53 pages of implementation for both policy initiatives and infrastructure investment. It is the action plan we will move to implement.

Volume three is the Detailed Strategy – consisting of 300 pages; including background information, sectoral profiles, that provides details and the underlying rationale for our proposed actions.

Secretary Mumu explained that the strategy will provides them with guidance as they collectively move the nation forward in the sector, and was approved by the National Executive Council on July 17.

“The National Transport Development Plan (NTDP)was the predecessor to the NTS.”

“This document is not just an update, but a new bill from the ground up, and we even put new foundations down,” he added.

ADB also co-funded the printing of the document with K162,000 at the department’s request, which the secretary was very grateful for.

Mr Mumu made special mention of all contributions put in by donor partners like the Asian Development Bank, Aus Aid, and JICA- making special mention of the contribution of the former secretary, Mr Henry Parakei, for his efforts in contribution to the compilation and eventual launch of the strategy.

He recommend it to everyone to read and get an understanding of the transport sector which is self-explanatory, providing information on the things that need to be done, prioritise the nation’s investments to get the best of the limited resources.