The 15km all-weather road starting at Boinahitim will reach Boinam in West Yangoru Local Level Government (LLG), taking down the last frontier in Yangoru Sassia District after fifty years.
Worth K4 million, The District Engineer, Mr. Josiah Sengi, confirmed that based on the scope-worth of operation, it the highest cost in the district and will be completed in three months.
He stated that the K4 million road budget covers essential construction components such as earthworks, drainage systems, culverts, and gravel surfacing.
Meanwhile, member of Yangoru-Sassia District Richard Maru, pointed out his initial plan to connect the Entire Yangora-Saussia District by Road, within the country’s fifty years.
Mr. Maru addressed the challenge of Residents of Boinamhitim and Boinam previously carried school building materials by foot for 15km, relying only on planes overhead.
He described the new road as the final and most challenging link, cutting through mountains and jungles to reach villages that have never seen a vehicle.
With this road, long-awaited services like health centres and schools will finally arrive, fulfilling the Marape-Rosso government’s promise to “leave no one behind.”
“We gained independence without many roads and many villages unconnected. In my time, I am determined to connect every village in my district.”
“I want to thank the Prime Minister James Marape, and the Marape-Rosso government for making available additional funding to all the districts called the Kina for Kina and District Infrastructure Funding.”
“At Yangoru-Saussia, we are using these funding to deliver roads like this.”
He also said that this road also meant more people working on cocoa gardens and bringing their produce to the market.
“The value of cocoa exports is twice the value of coffee exports in Papua New Guinea (PNG).”
“Last year, the export value of coffee was K500 million, and the value of cocoa exports was K1.2 billion.”
“More funding has been going towards roads for coffee-growing regions, and it is time the Government focuses on building and maintaining economic roads in cocoa-growing regions in PNG.”
Moreover, Maru acknowledge the roads upcoming contribution to enable more farmers to access markets and expand cocoa production, pointing out K1.2 millions of PNG Cocoa exports last year, more than double the value of coffee exports at K500 million.
Maru urged the Government to prioritize infrastructure investment in cocoa-growing regions, which have been historically underfunded compared to coffee-producing areas.
Furthermore, Maru urged the Asian Development Bank to extend its economic road program to coastal provinces, not just the highlands.
He emphasized that Yangoru-Saussia District produces 20% of PNG’s cocoa and needs better infrastructure to boost output.
In addition, he highlighted the Tangori to Koboibus Road as the province’s most economically viable route, deserving priority maintenance.
“The new Boinahitim to Boinam Road, upon completion, will be one of the very critical high-value economic cocoa roads into the future.”
“We are spending significant government funding on roads that are economical and those that will generate revenue to support the national purse.”
