ISOAIMO CALLS ON DOWH TO AWARD CONTRACTS TO LOCAL CONTRACTORS

By Sandra ULG

Kairuku MP and Vice Minister for Works and Highways Peter Isoaimo has called on the Department of Works and Highways (DOWH) to award road construction projects to local contractors or SMEs.

The Vice Minister made this call during the Department’s 50th Golden Jubilee logo launch to commemorate PNG’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations on Tuesday 04th March, 2025.

Isoaimo said DOWH must be diligent, honest and fair in awarding road construction projects to contractors. It is their responsibility to ensure that these contractors are awarded to local road building contractors from their respective provinces or regions.

He says by doing so, they empower local communities, create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth at the grassroots level.

“In particular, for where I come from, central province, I emphasize the importance of some consideration to be given to SME and local contractors from the province’’, he says.

He adds that it is understood that today the Department is facilitating commercial interest. But that is all to pull up to a lot about major highways that perhaps never got funded. Or if they may have been funded, the substandard jobs were done by contractors awarded through cronyism and nepotism.

He says the approach will not only foster local entrepreneurship but also ensure that the benefits of development are shared equitably amongst all Papua New Guinea citizens. This is so they can improve and transform Papua New Guinea for a better future.