DILI, 12 august 2024 (TATOLI) – The question of land for the wastewater sanitation infrastructure project in Dili will cost US$7 million, said the National Executive Director of Compact Development Team Timor-Leste, Ambassador Constancio Pinto.
The US$7 million will be awarded as compensation to 17 families who will be cooperated to vacate their land for the implementation of the country’s first compact program – a US$420 million grant from the American people to design and build wastewater sanitation infrastructure in Dili.
“So far the government has reached an agreement with 12 of the 17 families for them to vacate the land. The total compensation is around US$7 million. Once the negotiations are concluded, Bee Timor-Leste will begin construction of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Bebonuk, Dili,” said Constâncio Pinto.
In December 2022, the Timorese Government and U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a Program Implementation Agreement (PIA) for the implementation of the Compact Agreement for Education, Sanitation, Water Supply, and Drainage Programs.
The signing of this implementation agreement represents an important step towards the beginning of the implementation of the MCC Compact, with a global amount of US$484 million, made up of US$420 million provided by the US government and US$64 million made available by the Timorese government.
This program, to be implemented over five years and with a total investment of US$484 million, has two main components, for the improvement of two very important areas for the development of Timor-Leste, education and sanitation, water supply, and drainage.
The water, sanitation, and drainage component aims to reduce the contamination of drinking water and groundwater, which can cause diseases and impede the well-being and health of children and adults. The project includes the construction of a factory to produce chemical disinfectants for the city’s water supply, construction of the country’s first central wastewater system, improvement of the drainage network for the capital Dili and four neighboring municipalities, policy and institutional reforms as well as social and behavioral changes to improve the sanitation system and water management at the household level.
The water, sanitation, and drainage project, besides its direct impact on the health of Timorese citizens, will also contribute to reducing the risk of flooding, which has affected Timor-Leste so much in recent years, avoiding its environmental and socio-economic impacts by ensuring sustainable management of water and sanitation.
The education component aims to improve the quality of high school education for students by improving high school education and school leadership across the country. The project will establish the country’s first formal initial teacher training certification institution, the Centre of Excellence, which will offer professional training and certification for future and current high school teachers and leaders. Investing in teacher training will lead to better high schools, with students who will be better prepared for jobs or post-high school education, and thus improve their ability to contribute to the economic growth of the country.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
