Unusual weather patterns prompt dept to build better roads

By JEFFREY ELAPA
UNPRECEDENTED weather patterns threatening road infrastructures in the country are forcing the Works Department to build them to better standards, secretary David Wereh says.
Wereh said while PNG could expect natural disasters given climate change induced weather patterns having effects on the aging and old standard road infrastructures, it was important to have enough resources to respond to the increasing disaster emergencies.
He said responding to disaster emergencies was critical but the Works Department was putting together a proper programme to address emergencies for immediate response.
Wereh said roads would continue to form the main mode of transportation so a lot of attention should be given to them and as such, key consideration should be given to the management and implementation of rural roads and provincial roads.
He said the Government through Works was working on having disaster emergency response programme powers and responsibilities being transferred to provincial governments and district authorities as they had a better idea and knowledge of disaster impacts and situations.
“We cannot run from Port Moresby all the time, we are moving forward and now going to see an important shift from Waigani to the provinces and districts,” Wereh said.
“This reform process is now going through for the Government to approve for the provinces and districts to provide management and implementation responsibilities.”
“This are real issues and from an implementation point of view, we are doing our best to develop programme that can help to respond to such situation in a proactive manner, but the necessary budget support and leadership commitment are the key.
“Roads should be treated as essential services because its huge use and importance to the daily lives of people, like water and power. So the treatment and the support to ensure the roads are kept open always with backing of enough resource.”
Wereh said a lot of roads were built over unstable land and continuous rain was triggering a lot of landslips and movements affecting roads and bridge infrastructures.
“So the Government is embarking on rebuilding roads that have been destroyed to higher standard.”