Government Continues to Strengthen Rural Infrastructure with Rehabilitation of Luak - Betano Road in Manufahi
Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, accompanied by Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, presided over the launch ceremony on September 28, 2025, for the rehabilitation project of the road connecting Luak to Betano, in the Administrative Post of Same, Municipality of Manufahi. 
On that occasion, the Chief of Government emphasized that the development projects underway are in line with the vision and plan set out in the 2011-2030 National Strategic Development Plan, which establishes the construction of basic infrastructure in the areas of water, roads, health, and education as essential pillars. The Prime Minister called on the people of Manufahi to closely monitor the implementation of the project and contribute to its completion, avoiding actions that could delay the work, so that it can be completed on time and bring benefits to the entire community.
The Prime Minister also stressed that the company responsible must carry out the work with quality and responsibility, as this is an important infrastructure that will serve the population for many years.
The Minister of Public Works stated that, since taking office, the Prime Minister has asked him to prioritize infrastructure in rural areas in order to ensure better living conditions for the people who have fought so hard for the country.
The President of the Manufahi Municipal Authority, Luís Tavares, on behalf of the population, expressed his gratitude to the IX Constitutional Government, emphasizing that this investment responds to a long-standing aspiration. He also highlighted the importance of the road in enabling the population to transport their products to markets, thereby strengthening the local economy.
The Luak-Betano Road is part of the A14 National Road and is a vital link between Same, Luak, and Betano, helping to boost local trade, facilitate the transport of agricultural produce, attract investment, and improve mobility for residents in the municipality of Manufahi.
The project is divided into two parts, with separate contracts financed by the Ministry of Public Works. The first, covering a 5.1 km section, is valued at US$4.98 million and has a completion deadline of one year. The second, covering a 4.05 km section, is budgeted at US$4.83 million, also with a completion deadline of one year.
This investment is part of the IX Constitutional Government's vision for the infrastructure sector, which considers this area essential for the country's economic and social development. The Government Program emphasizes that infrastructure is the foundation for sustaining productivity, creating jobs, and boosting the private sector. After a period of economic stagnation and decline in public investment, the government relaunched structural reforms and increased investment in critical infrastructure throughout the country, with the aim of improving mobility and living conditions for the population, reviving the economy, and ensuring balanced and sustainable development across the country. In an integrated manner, the Ministry of Public Works has promoted projects throughout the country covering the rehabilitation and construction of the road network and bridges, national electrification and energy diversification, the implementation of water supply and sanitation systems, and the strengthening of drainage and protection against natural disasters, in a comprehensive modernization and expansion plan that aims to ensure the material foundations for the present and future development of Timor-Leste.
The ceremony was blessed by Father Albino Marques, parish priest of Nossa Senhora da Assunção de Same Parish, and was attended by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works, the Deputy Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Adérito Hugo, the Deputy Minister of State Administration, Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes de Deus, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Júlio do Carmo, members of the National Parliament, technicians from the Ministry of Public Works, representatives of the contracted companies, veterans, municipal and local authorities, as well as the population of the region. END
