By Delly Waigeno – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The Department of Works launched two important documen’s today that will guide them in effectively managing the country’s road networks.
The department is expecting outcomes that include a national road network that will contribute to nation building by connecting missing links and opening up economic corridors.
Staff and management of the Department of Works took the time to mark the launch of the department’s Corporate Strategic Plan 2015 to 2019 as well as its Specification for Road and Bridge Works 2015.
The documen’s were launched by the Minister for Works and Implementation, Francis Awesa, and Secretary, David Wereh.
The corporate plan has two parts; the first is the department’s roles and responsibilities, and the second is the implementation plan.
The major focus areas of the plan include: implementing a structured maintenance program to ensure the current 4,000km of national roads do not deteriorate. It wants to implement a program to upgrade and seal another 1,000km of national roads to good condition. The Specification for Road and Bridge Works gives technical specifications that are of current world standards.
Secretary Wereh said the Department of Works needs about K1.7 billion annually for the next five years to successfully implement these plans.
Minister Awesa said more than K1.7 billion was spent in 2015 on road maintenance and construction. He also raised the issue of variations and made a strong call for this costly exercise to be stopped.
He also called for a look into the tender evaluation process of contractors. He warned officers of the department that he will not tolerate corrupt practices and said if the plans are to work, everyone had to clean up their act.
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