By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
A local road engineer is managing the construction of road sealing from Malalaua, his home district, to Gulf provincial town, Kerema.
Jimmy Taparu, an engineer with Dekenai construction is currently supervising over 300 locals to seal part of the Trans National Highway.
The road sealing commenced yesterday.
It was a small ceremony witnessed only by local contractors, Dekenai engineers and a few land owners.
The road construction follows a government directive in 2014 to improve Road Network in Papua New Guinea.
Jimmy speaks about the road sealing as a local.
The construction is funded by the Asian Development Bank and the National Government at a cost of K70 million.
About 600 meters of road will be sealed on a daily basis, and Dekenai is planning to complete the sealing in March 2016.
The sealing of the 67 km road from Malalaua to Kerema Town is seen by locals as a major infrastructure development in the Gulf Province.
While some locals say the road opening will create economic opportunities for locals, others argue it will increase social problems for the communities.
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