The work on the establishment of Papua New Guinea Defense Force’s (PNGDF) Forward Operating Base is progressing well at Piapali in Tari, Hela Province with the anticipation of it being completed in September later this year.
PNGDF Commander Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo gave the update following the MoU signing of the work in June last year between the Hela Provincial Government, the Department of Defense and the PNGDF Commander.
The Forward Operating Base is the beginning of the lead up work to the planned establishment of the PNGDF’s Third 1000 men Infantry Battalion in Tari.
The Hela Provincial Government had committed K300, 000 for the work and K50 million for the next 10 year after its opening.
Brigadier General Toropo says the project is a strategic and deliberate one to allow continuous presence in addressing security issues in the resource rich region of the country as well as the highlands region and along the PNG land border.