Agency used K35mil to restore 200 airstrips, official says

By HELEN TARAWA
THE Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA) has restored 200 airstrips in Papua New Guinea at a cost of K35 million and aims to rebuild more in partnership with the Government, an official says.
RAA safety health environment quality manager Bobby Dara said government funding to RAA for restoration and maintenance of rural airstrips between 2014 and 2019 was about K31 million.
He said RAA expenses to date to restore and maintain nearly 200 airstrips in certain districts and provinces was K35 million.
“RAA does work in partnership with local members of parliament (MPs) and DDAs (district development authorities) and other stakeholders in communities where airstrips are located,” Dara said.
“The funding from the DDAs would be used for the initial assessment and a work plan would then be in place and the technical team from our head office in Goroka (Eastern Highlands) would start work with assistance of the community.
“We thank the MPs who have come to seek our help to work in partnership with us to restore and maintain their airstrips,” Dara said.
Rural Airstrip Agency government and donor liaison officer Peter Ghandi said the organisation, which opened in 2014, had been working with partners to ensure transport access to the rural communities.