Defence Force needs K15bil to meet target, Toropo says

THE Government will need K15 billion to build the capacity of PNG Defence Force to reach its expected 10,000 soldiers by 2030, Commander Brig Gen Gilbert Toropo says.
Toropo said to build a barracks with prerequisite soldiers accommodation and required equipment and facilities would cost about K600 mil.
He made the remarks during 43rd Engineering Battalion parade at Igam Barracks in the presence of Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu yesterday.
Toropo also announced the additional functions attached by the Government to the force to oversee the three national agencies including National Disaster office, National Volunteer Services and the Fire Services.
“The Government has directed PNGDF to oversee the three agencies and our policy and planning unit is in the process of reconfiguring their roles and functions to realign with the operational structure of PNGDF,” he said.
PNGDF has existing functions in land, sea and air while involved in various civic action programmes, natural disasters, recent Asia–Pacific Economic Summit (Apec) and other bilateral relationship activities over the years.
Toropo said PNGDF, despite having funding constraints to cater for its existing programmes, could take on their additional roles with additional budgetary support. “Funding constraints is the government’s issue,” he said.
“We as a State organisation are mandated with our obligations and we are prepared to execute our roles and responsibilities.”
He said that disaster and emergency response was one of the core activities of the PNGDF had experience in but the Fire Service and NVS were two new agencies that came under the force’s responsibility that would need to be incorporated.