K50,000 subsidies given for Enga fares

By DULCIE OREKE
ENGA Governor Peter Ipatas on Monday presented K50,000 in airfare subsidies to Air Niugini for his people to travel cheaply between Wapenamanda and Port Moresby.
The funding was the final quarter payment presented to the airline.
He said it had been a risky and costly exercise for his people who had to travel to Mt Hagen to buy air tickets.
During a brief presentation in Port Moresby, Ipatas describe the new services as timely in promoting new projects for the provinces.
He said these included Enga’s new hospital, a technical college as well as another education institute.
He said he was pleased to have the solicitor general’s office moved to the province.
Ipatas said Enga was a fortunate province to have direct flights into Wapenamanda.
He said despite the vital services being provided, they were still encountering fencing problem that needed to be addressed.
He said because of public safety issues, he hoped it could be funded in next year’s budget.
 Air Niugini chief executive officer Wasantha Kumarasiri said the airline was pleased to support Enga and acknow­ledged the province’s commitment.
He said customers would no longer have to travel to Mt Hagen to buy their tickets since  a sales office with four staff would start providing services in Enga.