Oil Search scheme spends K10 million on Simbu school buildings
30 May 2018
JIMMY AWAGL
KUNDIAWA – The Oil Search tax credit scheme has reached schools in the Sinesine-Yongomugl District of Simbu with a K10 million infrastructure fund delivering new buildings to educate the province’s children.
Since the inception of the tax credit scheme, it has established impact projects in Southern Highlands and Hela but this was a first for Simbu. The project was conceived by Kerenga Kua MP and Oil Search advisor Willie Kupo.
The money was allocated between three schools: Muaina Secondary and Bii Mai High receiving building funds of K4 million each while Ku High received K2 million.
The completed buildings gave a big boost to Mai High School, which lacked the required accommodation to cater for an increased the influx of students. No less than 26 singsing groups in traditional regalia sang and danced prior to the arrival of the distinguished guests at last Friday’s opening ceremony attended by 2,500 people.
They greeted a contingent of Oil Search managers airlifted to the scene and led by country manager Gerea Aopi and general manager Leon Buskens. Other dignitaries were Kerenga Kua MP, Joe Mogwai from National Planning and Monitoring and Simbu Governor Michael Dua MP.
The five new buildings include male and female dormitories, two staff houses and a double classroom, all fully kitted out. The facilities in the dorms looked like a hotel.
“Oil Search reaches the most remote places through its tax credit scheme with needed infrastructure,” country manager Gerea Aopi said. “We have been in the country since 1929 and, at 89 years old, we are a big brother to the nation.”
“Oil Search will continue to help where there is a need. We work in partnership with the government to enable people to enjoy desirable infrastructure if the capacity of the government falls short.”
Kerenga Kua commended Oil Search and the people of Southern Highlands and Hela for believing in the holistic development of non-resource-rich provinces like Simbu.
“As a nation, we deserved to get such infrastructure, since Oil Search is investing in this country not just the oil and gas provinces alone,” he said.
“Even if the government does not have the money to bring much anticipated infrastructure then the cooperating companies will dish out funds to needy areas to serve Papua New Guineans at large.”
The female dormitory was named after late former MP John Numi and the male dormitory was named after former MP Luker Mond. The double classroom was named after Willie Kupo, the advisor to Oil Search.
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