On January 28th, the Prime Minister, Mari Alkatiri, inaugurated a water supply system that will provide drinking water to 1570 families during 24 hours per day at Pante Macasar in Oé-Cusse Ambeno.
This project results from a partnership agreement between the Government of Timor-Leste and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed on the 28th October 2011. The construction of the water supply system started more than two years ago, in September 2015, with a total budget of USD 4,691,852.68 (ADB USD $2,955,86.19 and Government of Timor-Leste USD $1,735,985.49).
During the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister highlighted the need to raise the population’s awareness on efficient water consumption, also stating that ” in its Program, the current Government has established compliance with the Strategic Development Plan of Timor-Leste (2011-2030) as one of its priorities, which aims to bring piped water to the homes of all Timorese nationwide”.
During his speech the Interim President of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (SAROA), Arsénio Bano, stated that “access to the public drinking water network will allow the population of Pante Macassar to greatly improve their quality of life, not only by promoting public health, but the economic development of the region as well. “
In addition to the Prime Minister and the Interim President of the Special Administrative Region of Oé-Cusse Ambeno (SAROA), participating at this drinking water supply system inauguration were the Minister in the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Adriano do Nascimento, Deputy Prime Minister for Governance Affairs, José Maria dos Reis, the Minister of State Administration, Valentim Ximenes, the Vice Minister of State Administration, José Anuno, the Vice Minister of Planning and Finance, Sara Lobo Brites, the Secretary of State for the Council of Ministers and of the Media, Matias Freitas Boavida, National Director of control and quality of water, Gregório de Araújo, ADB Director in Timor-Leste, Paolo Spantigati, and representatives of civil society and the Church.
