Eastern Highlands, first province to sign Road Management and performance Agreement with Department of Works and Highways

Tuesday, 27 February 2024, 1:10 pm

EHP Provincial Member, Simon Sia, Works Minister Solan Mirisim, Works Secretary, David Wereh at the agreement signing in Port Moresby (NBC News: Solomon Sumb)

Eastern Highlands Provincial Government is the first province to be given powers to manage its district and provincial roads.

Last Friday an agreement to pave way for this was signed in Port Moresby between the Department of Works and Highways and the EHPG.

The agreement demonstrates the national government’s commitment to decentralise powers to the provincial governments and District Development Authorities (DDA) in line with the constitution and, the government’s decentralization policy.

Minister for Works and Highways Solan Mirism said apart from the agreement signed with Autonomous Region of Bougainvillea, Eastern Highlands is the first province in the country to reach this agreement.

“In accordance with the land Act powers will be transferred so Provincial and DDAs in the Eastern Highlands are legally empowered to take charge of their own road networks,” Minister Mirism said.

Minister Mirism urged provincial and local members of the 22 provinces and 89 district to partner with the national government as this is critically important to draw a clear line of responsibility.

“Just as national government is developing national road networks, we ask you to partner with us and develop your own networks which in turn will connect to the national road network and this is how you can bring effective government and business services to the communities and empower people.

“It is not the role of the National Government to direct or tell the provincial governments and DDAs what to do but to work in partnership with you all so we work together for common good of PNG,” Mirism added.

EHP Governor Simon Sia is looking forward to work in collaboration with the local MPs of the eight districts in the province and the department to build more roads in the province to give economic access to the people.

“I sit on the opposition side of the government but that is politics, when it comes to good policies and programs such as this I always support and I am grateful for this agreement.

“This is the only way forward for our people and I urge every other province and districts to come on board to look for ways how we open economic corridors through road networks,” Mr Sia said.