Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, says the development of roads and airstrips at district levels, remain the responsibility of elected members.
Mr. O’Neill said his government has, over the last four years, injected close to K20 million, into each district, through the District Support Improvement Program funds.
Thus, it is up to the local MPs to invest in the development of these basic infrastructures.
The initiative to improve road access and transportation services into rural areas has been one of the government’s goals, which was set in 2012 during the Alotau Accord, in Milne Bay province.
Since then, local members have been developing road networks in their districts with funding help from the National Government.
But despite public criticism on the focus of infrastructure development in Port Moresby, Lae and Mt Hagen, the Prime Minister said there is small but significant improvement in transportation services in many districts in the last four years.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said MPs of areas that can be accessed only by planes, must focus primarily on building airstrips for their people.
