SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Anderson Agiru has put K60 million worth of projects in his first 100 days in office.
Mr Agiru said far too much time and money had been wasted and people had suffered long enough in the districts.
The biggest amount of K55.875 million was spent on 28 infrastructure projects while K3.2 million has been allocated to the eight districts (K400,000 each) through the Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee for capacity building, maintenance work and project documentation in the districts.
A large chunk of the infrastructure commitments has come under tax credit arrangements from Oil Search (PNG) Ltd.
A Christian FM radio station to be broadcasting in the local Hela vernacular has also been allocated funding of K500,000.
Although the station will be set up by Evangelical church of PNG, it will be available to all churches in the area.
Mr Agiru has also set out strong guidelines and restrictions.
He said he would pay legitimate bills committed by the past administration including outstanding salaries totalling K800,000 and about K1.7 million in overdue loan repayments.
Mr Agiru is also inviting reputable companies to invest in all districts of the Southern Highlands namely Mendi, Tari, Kagua, Ialibu, Pangia, Komo, Magarima, Nipa and Koroba.
“The Government will provide land free of charge to those companies which intend to make investment of more than K200,000 in any field and employ at least 10 people.”
He, however, said that those companies intending to enter into exclusive tucker box type operations, gambling joints and liquor outlets need not apply.
All companies currently operating in the province or those intending to come to Southern Highlands have been told to establish a physical presence in the province with an address and telephone contact at Mendi, Tari or Ialibu.