Bulolo District Footbridge Programme

By SAM BASIL

Bulolo MP

Billboard at Baini footbridge project

Baini Village is under ward 19 of Mumeng local level government (LLG), one of the six LLGs of Bulolo district in Morobe province.

The local councillor is Yansom Bambla and the LLG president is Mathias Phillip, who resides at Timini village just along the Bulolo national highway.

My joint district planning and budget priorities committee (JDP&BPC) has approved more than six footbridges to be built in within the timeframe of the remaining months of this year, 2010.

The footbridge programme has been the hardest one of many projects because looking for a good and a reasonable local contractor is always a nightmare.

 This is our second attempt to kick start this programme.

The previous footbridge builder failed our footbridge programs in 2009 while the remainder of the footbridge programme funds was diverted back into other remaining projects late last year, 2009.

This year 2010 started off with a very good beginning which saw the successful completion of the Baini footbridge project.             

We have identified a local rigging and footbridge building firm, Kek Contractors, which has successfully installed the Mumeng television transmission tower and now the Baini footbridge project.

Footbridge opening

My team arrived at the project site at about 2pm that day and was greeted by dancing girls and women leading us towards the footbridge site.

Villagers trying out the new Baini footbridge on Thursday, Sept 2, 2010

We were later joined by others to witness the event. 

 Nearby villages from Baini also came along to witness this event from as far as Witipos, Kumangrung, Bluwat, Bumbalu and  Markham camp (crusher site) while Union of Watut River Communities executives were also present to witness the footbridge opening.

The dedication service started off with the local pastor’s blessing followed by speeches from various speakers.

Pastor blessing the newBaini footbridge

The pastor’s blessing was very welcoming to the villagers and the guests.

The first speaker was the Momase regional works manager, Andrew Thavung, who accompanied us to inspect the Buang Jamu bridge project site before being invited to this event which he gladly accepted.

Thavung, an engineer by profession, stressed on how important and expensive such project could be.

He called for the villagers’ care and attention of this very important infrastructure.

 Thavung also took this opportunity to educate the villagers of the safety and the importance of the Bulolo National Highway that runs alongside Baini village.

He said the highway would only keep on getting busier, therefore, when using the road as pedestrians, they should keep clear of traffic as much as possible to avoid accidents and also to take care of the highway infrastructure such as road signs, bridges and curve road guides.

Baini village elder Ambere spoke on behalf of the villagers.

He thanked the JDP&BPC for delivering this much-needed service to the Baini people, especially when the recent wet weather had caused havoc and disaster,

School children missing classes, women not accessing markets for their produce, and men not attending to nearby community meetings are some of the problems that they encounter during wet seasons.

Ambere said the footbridge would change their lives and made an assurance on behalf of the people to take care of this very-important infrastructure.

In my speech, I urged the Baini villagers to take care of this very-important investment which the district, through the JDP&BPC, has funded.

Bulolo’s mountainous region collects and drains all forms of water into its river system, which can be fatal at times, especially during wet season.

The district loses at least five or more lives annually through violent floods, normal crossings or accidents by weak or old adults and young children.

 It will be a mammoth task to cover all areas with this programme but the JDP&BPC will count on the performance of the construction crew …so far so good.

I used this event to update the villagers of the activities in parliament and told the villagers that whatever we the elected leaders did in parliament remained in parliament.

I also touched on the recent problem in Bulolo township regarding the settlers.

I told them that this was a law and order problem and everyone should respect the rule of law and allow for government and police to handle the situation.

I urged them to refrain from any activities that could further destroy the current fragile situation on the ground.                                           

Mumeng LLG president Mathias Phillip thanked the JDP&BPC for investing in his LLG, particularly ward 19.

He assured the Mumeng people of more of such projects from his LLG-Morobe Mining Joint Ventures royalty funds to support what has already been delivered by the JDP&BPC, of which he is a member.

Omalai ward 3 of Mumeng LLG will have its footbridge commissioned sometimes next week as the contractor is at its final stages of completing the construction.

The total cost of the Baini footbridge is under K30, 000.

Ward areas that are only accessible by air will see the costs of freight and mobilisation to establish such project will easily surpass the K100, 000 mark.