Sea travel made more efficient for the people of Pomio with the addition of a new vessel to serve the district in the East New Britain (ENB). Prime Minister (PM) James Marape launched the K8 million “MV Pomio 2,” as Pomio districts second vessel at the Palmalmal wharf last week Friday. PM Marape, while accompanied by the ENB Provincial Member, Michael Marum, and the Member for Pomio Elias Kapavore, stressed that the government is taking collaborative efforts in linking Palmalmal to the city of Kokopo since Pomio district holds almost 75 percent of ENB’s landmass. PM Marape also mentioned that the vessel will serve the people of Pomio district as well as neighboring Maritime Provinces. “This vessel will assist our people in bringing their produce to the markets. We want our people to be empowered and sustain themselves through agriculture. Work has commenced on the south coast links to Kokopo while we launch the ship. These are all part of the Connect PNG Program,” he said. Pomio MP, Elias Kapavore, stressed that the Marape- Rosso Government is touching the lives of rural communities like never before; therefore, the people must act attentively to the level of government support to develop the district, by being productive in the economic sector. PM Marape also opened the 30-meter Ngelngel Bridge in the Totongpal Ward in West Pomio LLG. Pomio Acting Deputy District Administrator for Operations, Joshua Jeremiah said the bridge and vessel were both delivered through the National Government’s Connect PNG Program; however, the Ngelngel Bridge was co-funded by the Pomio District Service Improvement Program (DSIP) with K500, 000, while the balance of K700, 000 was catered for by the National Government. “The Ngelngel Bridge was constructed as a response to the disaster caused by continuous heavy rains last year and thus, was issued a Certificate of Inexpediency (COI),”he said. The bridge will serve the people of the Totongpal Ward, and Wards from neighboring LLGs of Mamusi Yana and Melkoi.