Airstrip upgrade afoot

By SAMANTHA KATI
THE Telefomin development authority (DDA) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Rural Airstrip Authority (RAA) to upgrade and maintain the 35 airstrips in the district.
Telefomin MP Solan Mirisim said 24 of these airstrips were existing while 11 will be new where RAA will be doing scope of work and survey.
Mirisim said the present airstrips will be rehabilitated to cater for planes to use.
“Telefomin is one of the least developed district in the country that entirely depends on the air transport.
“For the long run we need to maintain and sustain our airstrips and this MoA being signed will enable RAA to support my DDA to provide airstrips in good conditions for third level planes to land in Telefomin,” he said
He said the road currently under construction will only reach Oksapmin while other places in Telefomin district will not be reach.
He said this partnership will connect isolated and remote places in terms of delivering services and goods to the people.
“With this partnership between Telefomin DDA and RAA, we will progress way forward, “Mirisim said.
He thanked RAA for accepting the invitation and he pledged to provide full support to RAA to carry out their work in his district.