By FRANK RAI
PEOPLE around the country celebrated the festive season in their own ways and the Pepakane village in the Buwang local level government area in Bulolo, Morobe province, was no exception.
The Pepakane villagers’ Christmas present came in a different way with the official opening of a upgraded water supply project.
Bulolo MP Sam Basil told a packed crowd who turned out to witness the occasion that the Pepakane water supply project was the first water supply project in the Buwang LLG area.
Mr Basil said that by next year, most of the villages currently without proper drinking water would be ‘hooked up’ with fresh water supplies.
He said plans were also underway to create the Bulolo district plumbing and maintenance programme.
“Capacity building in the districts is a concern of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), anti-corruption groups and churches, so Bulolo district will take a step forward to implement its own service delivery as part of the capacity building program,” Mr Basil said.
He said the programme had been initiated to cut contractors’ costs of millions of kina.
This water project brings to a total of eight so far being initiated by Mr Basil since being elected five months ago.
Two more under construction at Parakrish village and Patep Munanung are yet to be opened.