ATCDI signs K420,000 Contract
The Papua New Guinea University of Technology’s Appropriate Technology & Community Development Institute (ATCDI) has signed a K420,000.00 contract with the Huon Gulf District Development Authority (HGDDA) for three water bore projects.
The projects are for the drilling and construction of water supply systems in three (3) wards of Huon Gulf District in Morobe Province, specifically Gabensis, Wampit and 5-mile.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for HGDDA, Andrew Namuesh said these communities have been facing issues with proper water supply systems due to increased population. These projects will help improve their accessibility to proper water supply systems. He added that this will reduce health risks relating to improper sanitation management within and around the communities.
He thanked PNGUoT for having an arm as ATCDI to work with Community based projects such as this to meet the
basic needs of its population. “We chose PNGUoT because it’s a government institution which we must have a partnership with to market what the University is producing in the Province. We have seen that PNGUoT’s ATCDI has done these projects before so we’ve decided to engage them”. He emphasised the need for those projects to be completed successfully within the given time frame for the communities to use, as it is a dire need for them.
ATCDI was established in 1978 and has been delivering community-based projects with the aim to serve as the vital bridge between PNGUoT and the country. They’ve played the role of transforming the research done at PNGUoT, into tangible technological solutions that create a positive impact in communities. The Institute has dedicated Engineers, Scientists, Technical Experts, and Community Development Officers.
ATCDI has several key program areas which include energy, appropriate technology, food and downstream processing, liklik buk information centre, and the water and sanitation program which the recent water bore project signing falls under.
Following the signing of the contract, ATCDI Acting Director, Sona Anegi said, “we are orientated to provide services that we have expertise in and we will utilize what is being allocated to us to complete the projects that are trusted to us”. He thanked the Member for Huon District for Morobe Province, Honorable Jason Peter for trusting PNGUoT’s ATCDI with the contract of the three projects which he and his team hope to finish as expected.
Representatives from both parties expressed that the contract signing paves way for more Community Development engagements in Huon Gulf District.
The projects in the three areas are valued at K140,000 each, and will take 8-10 weeks for each project to be completed.
