CHIEF Ombudsman Richard Pagen has emphasised the need for quality work to be done on roads and bridges in the Nawaeb District of Morobe Province.
He said funds entrusted by taxpayers should return value in the delivery of quality infrastructure such as roads and bridges.
“It is my prerogative to come down on the ground to analyse and see how well these funds from the National Government are spent on projects,” Pagen said.
He made the comments during an inspection of the collapsed Busu Bridge in the district on Saturday.
Pagen was accompanied by Nawaeb Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Pelgen, Nawaeb Chief Executive Officer Buds Botikie, the district technical team and provincial Works Department engineers.
He had a first-hand experience of the road clearance at Kasuka, which had been blocked off by a landslip.
Pagen said all works on roads and bridges in the district should be facilitated by the Department of Works and Highways (DoWH).
He said the construction of a new bridge to replace the one collapsed should meet quality engineering standards and be durable.
“This should be because they (DoWH) have all the government requirements and technicalities to deliver the work,” Pagen said.
“Contractors may be awarded the scope of the work, however, it is best for the Works team to supervise the construction so that quality outcomes are ensured.”
MP Pelgen said so far all projects undertaken in the district have been supervised from day one by the provincial Works team.
“We are on track to deliver the new Busu Bridge within the timeframe as per the requirements of the department,” he said.
He said the Nawaeb technical team was on the ground to ensure the completion of the bridge, including two new footbridges which are to be delivered as soon.
“The contractor’s technical team has been on-site from day one inspecting, collecting data and surveying.
“This vital information has been passed to Works for evaluation and they have assured us of a replace (for the bridge).
“In the meantime, we will undertake a temporary wet crossing for the vehicles to access the district headquarters at Boana.”
Meanwhile, the local MP said the district’s technical team is already in China looking at costings for other bridges for the district.
He thanked the Marape/Rosso Government for its intervention.
