The Passam to Maprik Road in East Sepik Province will be funded by the National Government to be upgraded, says Minister for Works and Highways Solan Mirisim. Minister Mirisim stated in Parliament after a supplementary question was asked by Governor for East Sepik Allan Bird in-regards to the funding for the roads, which was initially supposed to be funded by the Australian Government. Governor Bird asked if the road from Passam-Maprik on the Sepik highway was initially funded under the Australian Government's Transport Sector Support Program (TSSP) and if the Minister could confirm or deny if the initial funding by Australia was withdrawn. Minister Mirisim in response stated that the National Government has decided to take over the funding of the Passam-Maprik section of the Sepik Highway when they awarded the contract to a Chinese firm to do the work on the road and upgrade under the Connect PNG program. He said Australia withdrew their funding of K100 million due to the contract being awarded to the Chinese firm because they did not want to do business with a Chinese contractor. "The Passam-Maprik road, the contractor has been awarded China Shayang International, and the contractor is in their mobilization to start work on the road from Passam to Maprik. The National Government will fund the road because it is an economic road, and we have already awarded the contract, and we are waiting to fund it. Also, the road from Passam to Angoram in East Sepik is with the National Procurement Commission (NPC) and they will deliberate on it and give approval for the project anytime this week for the National Executive Council (NEC) to award the contract for the road to be upgraded," Minister Mirisim stated. He also thanked the government for the maintenance work on the road from Hayfield to Waterfront at Pagwi. "The Maprik to Wara Sikau road is at the evaluation stage and it will soon reach NPC before going to NEC. But for the road from Wara Sikau to Lumi with road from Vanimo to Green River, are currently at NPC," Minister said. He said for the Coastal Road the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are working on the designs for the roads starting from Wutung in West Sepik to Wewak in East Sepik. "The design includes two wharves as well in Wewak and Vanimo. After the design, it will go for tender and a contract would be awarded in 2026," he said.