Road works can go ahead

 By TED WIKA KALEO
OFFICERS from the Autonomous Bougainville Government have met Works Secretary David Wereh to discuss issues relating to road contracts in Bougainville.
Wereh said confusion arose after two tenders were called for the same sections of roads.
He said tenders for the Buka Ring Road and the section of the highway from Siara to Ramazon had been withdrawn.
They will proceed with the tenders managed by the High Impact Project Office and the ABG Technical Services because they were consistent with the Joint Steering Body Resolutions and the ABG Project Management Unit guidelines.
“The two road projects are evaluated by a technical committee of the Department of Works and the ABG,” he said.
“And we are happy with the arrangement to develop capacity overtime.
“Quality of road works is important and value for money must be seen by the travelling public on the work output.” Were said the ABG wanted to see local contractors participate in the ventures or under management contracts in which road contract works were managed by competent and experienced management contractors. 
“It is important for ABG to own the procurement process which the High Impact Project Office is helping them to develop and is having an oversight on all procurement issues to ensure processes are consistent with the Public Finance Management Act and the ABG PMU Operating Guidelines,” Wereh said. He said other tenders were rejected by the ABG because they were given without their knowledge.
ABG technical services chief executive officer Bernard Tzilu said there was a huge gap in contractor capacity and experience to carry out road construction to acceptable standards in Bougainville.