Govt plans to give 5.6pc of budget to roads

**The Kunam-Dubi Road will connect the Woitape local level government to the Hiritano Highway, giving access to the people of Goilala in Central. – Picture supplied**

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
TO connect Papua New Guinea, the Government intends to give 5.6 per cent of the national budget to roads across the country every year, says Prime Minister James Marape.
“The Government’s commitment through the Connect PNG Act has committed a minimum 5.6 per cent budget allocation every year for the next 20 years for the roads,” he said.
“Only 5.6 per cent will go to roads and it will be dealt fairly; we know what the priority roads are for the first 10 years and what roads are for the next 10 years as we build and open up roads.
“It allows you to bring your coffee, cocoa, copra and allows tourism into your provinces.”
Marape was speaking at the Kunam-Dubi Road site in Goilala where he launched the road project that will link Woitape to the Hiritano Highway, Central.
Goilala MP and Transport Minister William Samb said the Connect Goilala programme would allow the people to travel into Port Moresby to sell their produce.
“The leaders have said there is no compensation and they have not laid any claims with the district office,” Samb said.
Local landowners have declined to ask for compensation, saying the road to be built will allow them to have access to money and to build up their community, Woitape president Fabian Aia said.