Pomio

BSP opens Palmalmal branch

BSP Financial Group Limited established the sub branch in Palmalmal in 2012 to service an estimated 100,000 people (then) in the Pomio District who would otherwise have to travel to Kokopo and Rabaul by air or sea to access banking services.  

BSP Group General Manager for Retail Daniel Faunt said the sub branch provide only a limited service due primarily to unreliable telecommunication infrastructure.   

Pomio ventures into potato farming

Another 30 minutes of boat ride would take to reach Pomio patrol-post, now a sub-station covering Central Inland Pomio.

The distance between Pomio station and Milei is about 32 kilometres by road and it is in Milei and its neighbouring village Pakea where the Fresh Produce Development Agency (FPDA) has established two models farm for potato seed production back in 2018.

Potato grows very well in this inland part of Pomio where the altitude is high and the climate more suitable coupled with a stretch of fertile land.

Pomio DDA Assists Students

The funding support came through its District Subsidy Scheme that allows for the payment to its student’s tuition fees.

Member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore was on hand to present the cheque at the University of PNG main campus on Tuesday this week.

The Member was warmly welcomed by the Pomio students who are members of the East New Britain Students Association.

Pomio District has continued to support its students through Tertiary Students Support scheme for the past four years.

Work to start on Pomio hospital

When applauding the State Solicitor for making clarifications over queries by the National Procurement Commission, Member for Pomio, Elias Kapavore, says the queries by the NPC were on whether the ADB should adhere to requirements under the National Procurement Act of 2018.

Kapavore says the hospital is fully funded by the ADB, to cost between 35 and 40 million kina, and will be constructed in eight phases.

He says after a 3-week delay, initial ground works should begin, as contract for the first phase has been awarded to the successful contractor.

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ENB ward’s first cocoa export to Japan

Destined for its buyer, Tachibana Company in Japan, the 5 hundred kilograms of smoke taint free cocoa beans are the first of a total of 2 tons that will be delivered to the company.

This arrangement was made possible through assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) financial project under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that it facilitates in the country, through relevant government agencies.

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M6.8 quake rattles ENB

The Port Moresby Geophysical Observatory (PMGO) says the earthquake, which occurred about 40km South-West of Pomio, was a result of interaction between the South Bismarck and Solomon Plates.

“The earthquake was felt in Rabaul but no damage from this earthquake has been reported, however, communications in the Pomio area are challenging,” said the PMGO.

“Based on the available data, it is unlikely that this earthquake would have generated a tsunami. 

Pomio cocoa exports to Japan

The MOU was signed on September 13th between Elias Kapavore and the United Nations Development Programme.

With the MOU communities who are part of the Tavolo Wildlife Management Area, are now pioneering a new business venture that will see high quality cocoa exported directly to Japan.

Communities in Pomio district produce large amounts of cocoa but are isolated and lack access to transport infrastructure making it difficult to supply their products to international markets.

Pomio to export cocoa to Japan

Communities in Pomio district produce large amounts of cocoa but are isolated and lack access to transport infrastructure, making it difficult to supply their products to international markets.

With the recent signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding, these communities who are part of the Tavolo Wildlife Management Area, are now pioneering a new business venture that will see high quality cocoa exported directly to Japan.

​Pomio labeled ‘high risk’

This is because in the 2012 elections, people in Pomio, especially in the Mamusi Rural LLG, refused to cast votes and threatened polling officials, says provincial police commander, Joseph Tabali.

And the reason for that?

“They said there were no government services in the area,” Tabali told Loop PNG.

“That’s why I am allocating four security personnel to one polling team for Mamusi. Other areas will only have two or three security escorts.”

SABL having direct impact on environment

Sipona comes from Malmal Village in west Pomio, East New Britain Province where logging has exploited their environment.

She explained that their forest is gone under SABL and the people in her village live as if they don’t own land.

The land in Malmal is under a 99-year lease agreement and they’ve been told by the developers that the land was now a state land.

Sipona highlighted that their drinking water and fresh water creeks have been contaminated because there are no buffer zones to protect them.