Caption: Works and
Implementation Secretary David Wereh.
By MATTHEW VARI
THE Department of Works and Implementation launched for the first time its road plan for the year in delivering major road impact projects in the country, on Friday in Port Moresby.
With the aim to clear path, a smooth ride and a safe trip to the travelling public in the country, the launch was attended by the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, along with Works Minister Francis Awesa, and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato, along with departmental heads and donar agencies along with road contractors.
Making his presentation, Secretary for Works and Implementation David Wereh, highlighted the benefits and gains the department had accomplished in the last two and a half years, also highlighting the significant backlog in deferred maintenance his department is tasked to overcome over the last few years.
He said that plan was vital and it is important for them to be aware of their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of 2015 budget.
“PNG’s road network consists of 8740km of national roads, 21,000km of provincial and district roads- we have over 2000 cross drainage structures both bridges and culverts,” Wereh explained.
“The gap of deferred maintenance has been going up over the last 15 to 20 years, and the maintenance budget requests have been quiet high, as a result of the shortfalls we had been receiving under the maintenance and rehabilitation programs- the deferment backlog had been growing, and as of 2012 we had been sitting on a backlog of K3 to K4 billion kina.”
“The department has come up with some key performance targets we want to achieve in the next medium term (2013- 2017) in line with the government's vision to ensure that certain priorities of our roadmap are put in place by 2017 with an additional 2,000 to 5,000kilometers of national roads.”
He said that the 2015 expenditure from donor partners and the national government will see just over a billion kina being expended in the year.
“Since 2013 there has been a significant increase in the funding of our road maintenance and we would like to acknowledge the commitment of the government, the department, and its staff,” he said.
“In 2013 we received about K994 million, than in 2014 we received K1.6 billion, and this year in 2015 we have received another K1.5 billion.”
“You can see that the funding allocation is not concentrated to one cluster but we have all national roads receiving substantial amount of funds, towns and city roads along with provincial and district roads- there is a balanced distribution of the funds.”
2015 Spending priorities will evolve around the maintenance and upgrading of National roads to the tune of K1.02 billion, which will seethe construction of four to six major road sections under ADB (Asian Development Bank), maintenance and rehabilitation of the highlands highway, completion of upgrading of sections of the Hiritano Highway through the World Bank, and the improvement of accessibility and reliability of long stretches of highways throughout the country.
“Also included is the maintenance and replacement of national bridges at the cost of K81.3 milion for 600 meters under ADB and an additional 400 meters under DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Australia),” Wereh said.
“Maintenance of provincial roads K69.7 million, town roads K263.5 million, Lae city roads, Kookaburra Flyover and others, and the commencement of Mt Hagan city roads rehabilitation and upgrading works to begin.”
“Opening up of stretegic economic corridors is around K20 million to open up East to West New Britain road, begin tendering and construction of the Erave-Sebirinki link under the tax credit scheme funding, and reaching Kaintiba with a standard two wheel track on the Gulf to Morobe Link.”
The Secretary thanked donor partners for their immense contribution to the 2015 road plan, taking up 27 percent of the cost of the rehabilitation and maintenance program that includes JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency).
“In our performance against our key targets in the last two years of 2013 – 2014 we have recorded more than 462 kilometers of national and provincial roads upgraded and sealed, with ongoing maintenance of 4000 kilometers of National Roads in good condition level,” Secretary Wereh added.
“45km of Lae City roads have been upgraded to standard concrete roads, 41 New Bridges delivered and constructed on various roads throughout PNG, the opening up of East West New Britain Link to standard Class 3 Road with others still in progress with more than K700 million worth of projects still in progress.”
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