Chinese company helps Southern Highlands

 FROST and drought-affected Southern Highlands received a helping hand from Chinese contractor COVEC (PNG).

The company, which has been operating in Southern Highlands and PNG for the last 20 years and which recently completed the landmark Mendi-Kandep Road, handed over K30,000 as its contribution towards the relief effort last week.

COVEC (PNG) acting general-manager and project manager Tony Liu handed the money to Southern Highlands Governor William Powi in Port Moresby.

He said COVEC had supported Southern Highlands many times previously, including a cash contribution to the Mendi Hospital.

“This year, we heard of the drought and frost in Southern Highlands and we want to do something to help,” Liu told Powi.

“We want to do something to help the local people because we are partners.”

Powi said thousands of people in all five districts in his province were affected and his government had already allocated K2 million towards relief supplies.

“The provincial administration has put in place a disaster committee to manage funds and relief supplies to our people,” he said.