THE Papindo Supermarket in Popondetta on Wednesday supplied 500 bales of rice valued at K13,000 for immediate distribution throughout the Oro province.
Governor Suckling Tamanabae took delivery of the rice container and ordered government workers to urgently distribute the food by helicopter.
Papindo Popondetta branch manager Jude Reyes said the company was obligated to assist because they shared the pain and sufferings of the Oro people.
Mr Reyes said that business community in the Oro was communicating regularly to look at how best they could assist in the disaster relief operations.
Meanwhile, Higaturu Oil Palm general manager Graham King said that they would build a temporary log bridge at Double Cross River to allow people near the Higaturu estate and others along the Kokoda Highway to have access to Popondetta town.
“We would like to get the local economy going,” he said.
Mr King also said they had arranged for an oil tanker to come from Rabaul with 140,000 litres of fuel.