Two communities connected by footbridge funded under PCDF

Bareho and Tusungoete of Nono Ward communities in the Marovo Lagoon of Western Province recently celebrated the completion of their new 18m x 1.2m footbridge that links the two communities.

The bridge was funded by the SIG and donor partners through the much revered Provincial Government Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) of the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) that is based at the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institution Strengthening (MPGIS).

In 2020, the Western Provincial Assembly approved priority projects related to climate change identified by the communities under UNDP’s Government for Resilience (Gov4Res).

The Bareho-Tusungoete Footbridge is one such prioritised projects that cost SBD510,060 with SBD260 from WPG PCDF, and SBD250,000 from UNDP’s Gov4Res.

Speaking during the official handing over guest of honour for the occasion, Provincial Minister for Planning, Hon. Alesina Redfern, stated that in the face of climate change challenge, a vital piece of infrastructure that connects the two communities has been successfully completed and officially handed over.

The construction of the bridge was jointly funded by UNDP-Gov4res and the Solomon Islands Government (SIG).

Alesina stated that climate change is a global issue that is impacting negatively on the islands in the lagoons of Western Province.

“The sea level rise has not only salinized fresh coastal water sources of our people but has also inundated low coastal lands that our people once depended on for food such as root crops”, he stated.

He stated that the Bareho-Tusungoete Footbridge is such a vital service that connects the easy movement of the people in the two communities particularly women and children.

He informed the people of these communities, Bareho and Tusungoete of Nono Ward in the Marovo Lagoon of Western Province, that they deservedly have reasons to celebrate with joy, their new 18m x 1.2m footbridge that was funded by the SIG and Donor Partners through the much revered Provincial Government Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) of the Provincial Governance Strengthening Programme (PGSP) that is based at the Ministry of Provincial Government and Institution Strengthening (MPGIS).

Amongst the guests were the PCDF documentary team led by the Communication Officer for the PGSP, Baddeley Nukumuna. The team caught up with several of the beneficiaries of the footbridge and gauged their opinions on how the project is affecting the lives of them, the recipients.

Hiulah Resepio, 90, could not hide her excitement.

She stated that at least in her late lifetime she is witnessing what she called a milestone achievement.

“I am excited and I am telling you people this little back etched lady shall trudge across the footbridge with her walking stick to reciprocate the daily visits paid by her grandchildren from Tusungoete. I am going to walk over there”, she emphasised

Another a 14-year-old grade 6 pupil, Brian Pita, stated that for him, the footbridge meant that he is not going to paddle from Tusungoete to attend schooling at Bareho any more as he can just walk or run over the bridge in order to attend classes.

“The bridge is now going to change the way he is going to school. Instead of paddling, or teetering on slippery stones, or wading across, with books and clothes on his head, he said, such he is now going to be a thing of the past.