The Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) and the Department of Lands and Physical Planning (DLPP) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, 3 June, aimed at resolving long-standing land acquisition challenges that have delayed road projects nationwide.
The MoU is anchored in national legal instruments including the Constitution of Papua New Guinea, the Land Act 1996, the Physical Planning Act 1989, and other related legislation governing land ownership, use, and development.
The ceremony took place at the Grand Papua Hotel’s Markham Conference Room, with key officials, stakeholders, and staff from both departments in attendance.
The memorandum seeks to establish a formal framework for collaboration, aligning their efforts to improve governance, reduce delays, and eliminate fraudulent land compensation claims that previously cost the State millions of kina.
Secretary for Works and Highways, Gibson Holemba, described the MoU as “a significant milestone in inter-agency collaboration and is a step forward in addressing the delays and challenges often encountered in road project implementation due to land acquisition issues.”
“It reflects a shared commitment to effective governance, accountability, and sustainable development,” he added.
Mr. Holemba acknowledged the role played by the DoWH’s Environmental and Social Safeguard Branch, led by Assistant Secretary Kenneth Yamu, in facilitating the drafting and finalisation of the MoU.
Infrastructure, particularly road development, is a major enabler of economic growth and social development in PNG, the Secretary noted. However, the complex processes associated with land acquisition, especially those involving customary landowners, have posed a significant barrier to progress.
Recognising these challenges, the DoWH and DLPP jointly agreed to streamline critical procedures related to land acquisition, compensation, and compliance with legal requirements.
“This MoU is a foundational step to ensuring that development of critical road infrastructure is not hampered by land acquisition delays and unnecessary fraudulent land compensation payments which has become an industry of its own, causing the state to lose millions of kina in the past years,” Mr. Holemba said.
The agreement will help prevent bogus claims by individuals pretending to be customary landowners and enhance transparency, efficiency, and public confidence in government-led road development initiatives, he added.
The MoU outlines the shared responsibilities between the departments across key areas:
- Land acquisition processes, using both voluntary and compulsory mechanisms;
- Valuation and compensation in accordance with legal frameworks;
- Surveying, mapping, and documentation of land transactions;
- Stakeholder engagement with customary landowners;
- Legal and regulatory compliance relating to land matters in PNG.
From the DLPP’s side, the department will lead efforts in land acquisition, stakeholder consultation, compensation assessments, legal compliance, and documentation.
Meanwhile, the DoWH will provide technical specifications, budget allocations for land-related matters, and ensure road designs align with land acquired.
Joint responsibilities will include coordinated planning, data sharing, dispute resolution, and conducting regular reviews of progress under the MoU.
“The understanding signed today will strengthen the governance process at the inter-agency level to resolve delays and prevent bogus land acquisition payments,” Mr. Holemba said.
“The outcome of the MoU is to enhance coordination between DoWH and DLPP to ensure there is more efficiency, accountability, transparency, and improved stakeholders’ confidence in government-led road development project initiatives,” he stated.
