ROAD RECONNECTS 12,000 CIVILIANS

By Naomi TAKOMA, N.C.D

For nearly a decade, over 12,000 people in five remote coastal villages in West Sepik Province were isolated from basic services. Without a proper road, their only option was costly and dangerous boat travel to reach Vanimo, the provincial capital.

That changed in June 2024, when the International Labour Organization (ILO), under the European Union-funded EU-STREIT PNG Programme, completed the rehabilitation of a 16.7-kilometre road linking Rawo and Leitre villages.

The upgraded road includes 22 relief culverts, two slab culverts, and two box bridges designed for year-round, climate-resilient access. For the first time in years, villagers can now travel safely at any time of day by car, bus, or motorcycle.

“This road is a very big plus for the rural community here and we’re very pleased indeed,” said Father Joseph Runnai from the Catholic Mission in Leitre. “Though we have boats, it was risky at times during rough seas and also expensive compared to PMV fares.”

Now connected to the main road network in the Bewani-Wutung-Onei LLG of Vanimo-Green District, communities have renewed access to markets, health centres, schools, and public services. Transport costs have dropped dramatically. Cocoa farmers, for instance, once paid PGK 100 for a round trip by boat. They now spend just PGK 20 using Public Motor Vehicles (PMVs).

The road has also improved emergency response and logistics. Teachers and health workers can travel more easily, and vital supplies—including medicine and construction materials—are now delivered efficiently by road. Fr. Joseph noted that materials for a new staff house and regular medical supplies have since been transported with ease.

Crucially, the project also generated employment. Six locals—including two women—were hired for ongoing road maintenance, earning PGK 700 each per month. Among them is 27-year-old Raynatalyn Simewa, a young mother with a hearing impairment, who now contributes meaningfully to her family’s income.

The Rawo-Leitre road rehabilitation is more than a transportation upgrade—it’s a lifeline that has reconnected families, revitalized rural communities, and laid the groundwork for lasting development.