BABUAF LO’s USE IDG FUNDS TO PURCHASE HEAVY MACHINERIES FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION

BY Zebedee GIAME, Lae

THE Babuaf Land Owners Association with in the peripheries of the Special Mininig Lease 10 area of Wafi Golpu project has purchased heavy machines and equipment to open up access road for the 10 village communities.
The equipment and machineries were purchased at a cost of K2.8 Million, from the first ever Infrastructural Development Grants they received, since the IDG payments commenced in 2021.

Babuaf Land owners association president Jack Raban, since this is the first time Babuaf have been paid some money from the Infrastructural Development Grants, they want to build a road for themselves adding that the people have started this project using their own money and challenged the Morobe provincial government and the Huon Gulf DDA partner with the Babuaf people.

The IDG payments began in 2021 but Babuaf has for the first time received its share of K4.8 million net after tax from K5.333 million paid out of K25 million.

Mr Raban when launching the road project, says they have prioritised a road access over a community health post which he confirmed will be built as soon as the road is completed, adding the people of Babuaf have had nothing to show as land owners.

President Jack Raban explains that western access road project is based on a consultation exercise by association.
He adds the lower Watut people have been without a road access and usually traverse the savanah plains and marsh low lands by foot to get to the Bulolo National Highway or Okuk Highway to get to Lae.