The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) programme of the national government administered by the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is continuing to transform living standards in Temotu Pele Constituency in Temotu as constituents benefit from the CDF by owning permanent dwelling homes.
Pele Constituency is located in the remote Reef Islands in the Temotu Province. Despite the remoteness, the Constituency (TPC), under the leadership of their Member of Parliament (MP) Hon. Duddley Kopu is continuing to deliver basic social and economic infrastructure services and other projects to its people through the CDF programme to improve their livelihoods.
“Housing Scheme Project is one of our constituency priorities. And it is an ongoing project since Honourable Kopu was elected to the National Parliament,” Constituency Development Officer (CDO) Annie Gaudo said.
She said it is the constituency’s office commitment that constituents who have applied were given housing projects to own and live in good houses.
“The constituency does not only support housing project alone but also funded church organisations by funding the construction of their church buildings. Most of the projects are fully funded. They are two and three bed room dwelling houses. Only few dwelling houses or projects are supported or assisted with roofing materials but most of the housing projects are fully funded by the constituency with CDF money.”
“Each dwelling home cost the government through Pele constituency office over $300,000. It is very expensive because we are not just giving copper and roofing irons or materials but we provided full complete projects – from foundation to the roof. The dwelling homes are fully funded including labour. Carpentry and construction equipment are also purchased by the constituency and provided to project recipients to construct their projects,” Ms. Gaudo said.
“We also purchased sawn timbers from other provinces as well as from timber yards in Honiara and shipped over on charged vessels to the constituency. It was a very expensive exercise because one charter alone can cost us over $1 million.
But that is the only option for us to take since Reef Islands has no big forest or jungles like other bigger provinces and most of the trees grown on the islands are fruits trees which everyone depends on it for their daily livelihoods.
“So, for us to save and protect those fruit trees and the partial forest we have to order timbers and logs outside or somewhere.
“It is TPC office commitment to ensure constituents are supported and provided with much needed assistance to improve their livelihoods,” Ms. Gaudo explained.
“I am very happy and thankful for the government through my Member of Parliament Hon. Duddley Kopu for giving me a permanent house,” Chief Eric Peniopu expressed his gratitude when interviewed by MRD Media at his village, Nopali in the Reef Islands.
Chief Peniopu said life has changed after he has a permanent house fully funded by the government through CDF.
“Before, I and my family struggle a lot. We have to walk distances to collect bush materials like sticks and sago palm leaves when our house is leaks and needed repair or for building of new houses. Sometimes we got wet from roof leaks when there is heavy rain. But today, I am a happy man. Life has changed.
There are no more leaks from the roofs and no more long-distance walk to collect bush materials. I can sit down relax and enjoy my cup of hot water under the roof of my new permanent house without worrying about heavy rain,” Mr. Eric attested.
Chief Peniopu then asked the government to continue supporting the CDF programme because it is the only assistance that touches rural lives as well as improving the livelihood of rural people.
Walter Kuligi of Nyialo village also shared the same sentiments. He thanked the national government through their constituency office which is under the leadership of MP Kopu for the housing project assistance.
“I and my family are happy to live in a good house than before,” Mr. Kuligi said.
“Thank you, DCGA government and our MP Hon. Kopu for the great support.”
Other assistance provided through CDF and witnessed by the MRD visiting team include water supply and OBMs and canoes.
MRD team led by the Permanent Secretary Dr. Samson Viulu was in Reef Islands for the ground breaking ceremony on Monday 11 July 2022 for the commencement of the construction work on the Lomlom coastal ring-road, and got the opportunity to observe and verify developments that are happening in the constituency through the CDF programme.
Housing scheme project and funding of church buildings come under the Infrastructure program, an ongoing project of TPC office. Over 50 completed dwelling homes were fully funded by TPC while construction on their new housing projects for year 2020/2021 is still progressing.
Honourable Duddley Kopu who is the Minister for MRD is the current Member of Parliament for Temotu Pele Constituency.
He was elected to the national parliament after he successfully contested and won TPC seat on 19th November, 2014 in a national by-election.
CDF Programme is funded by the national government (SIG) and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) as donor.
Source: Press Release, Ministry of Rural Development