Agreement signing to build Lae-Finschhafen road deferred

THE signing of a memorandum of understanding between Finschhafen district development authority (FDDA) and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force engineering battalion for the construction of the Lae-Finschhafen Highway has been deferred.
The signing should have occurred yesterday at Gagidu Station, Finschhafen, but was deferred due to the recent defence ministerial portfolio changes.
Kundiawa-Gembogl MP William Onglo has been appointed as Defence Minister after Solan Mirisim resigned to join the opposition.
The FDDA also signed a MoU with the Department of Works last year to improve road conditions in Gagidu. Engineer battalion commander Lt-Col Bruno Malau said PNGDF would undertake the project in partnership with FDDA’s five year development plan through the nation building policy that captures the civic actions programme.
Malau said the engineers would deploy a detachment every three months within the project area to achieve the government’s aspirations to connect the missing link and enhance socio-economic opportunities.
FDDA chief executive officer Glen Kiso was K400,000 was allocated by the district while K5 million was secured through the Works Department in the national budget.