Villagers thank MRDC for K2.8 million community hall

VILLAGERS from Boera in Central will now have a main centre of activity with a K2.8 million new Community Hall delivered by the Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) last Friday.
MRDC funded the project through the village’s Community Infrastructure Trust Fund (CITF) benefits from the PNG LNG project.
Managing director Augustine Mano said projects delivered for Boera alone through their CITF had reached K5 million.
He said in total, CITF for all four plant site impacted village’s which includes Boera, Papa, Lealea and Porebada has reach K17 million in the last four years.
“Benefits are flowing to the plant sites, pipeline, upstream and oil fields,” Mano said.
“It was not easy to put up a project like this.
“It was one of the first of its kind we have ever done for the CITF project.
“Creating a community centre is like a hub, every place a trading place, centre of business, politics and etc.
“Having a community centre like this is a venue for interaction of SMEs, churches, groups and keeps order in society.
“Having an infrastructure like this worth K2.8 million is worth while.”
Ulato Avei, chairlady of Gas Resources PNG LNG Plantsite Company Ltd, the landowner company for the four villages, said the old building lasted almost 40 to 50 years with maintenance.
Avei said it has been a struggle to put up the new building over the last two years with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) measures and other issues. She encouraged all stakeholders such as ExxonMobil PNG Ltd, MRDC, Laba Holdings Ltd and landowners to work together to deliver community projects in the village’s because it created employment for youths.
The community centre will be managed by the Boera Women Fellowship.