Govt launches Bobonaro–Lolotoe road rehabilitation project
DÍLI, 19 September 2026 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, launched the project to rehabilitate approximately 8.9 kilometres of the road between Bobonaro and Lolotoe, with an investment of US$11.98 million and an 18-month execution timeframe.
The project aims to improve traffic conditions on this stretch of road and enhance community access to markets, educational establishments, and health services.
During the ceremony, the Minister of Public Works explained that “following the launch, the company will be granted three months to mobilise equipment and set up its site. We therefore ask the community to cooperate and not create obstacles.”
The visit to Lolotoe also enabled the Minister and his delegation to observe first-hand the condition of local infrastructure and to gather information on the needs of the communities.
“In this way, we can all share a common vision for the country’s development. The information we gather on the ground will subsequently be passed to the Head of Government,” stated the Minister.
The Administrator of the Lolotoe Administrative Post, Quintino Santos de Jesus, expressed local authorities’ support for the project’s execution and requested that interventions on the Mapelai and Molop Tobur roads also be considered.
The Administrator also highlighted the need to extend the electricity grid to the hamlet of Oelaka, a sub-hamlet of Oburo, and announced that a proposal will be submitted to the Ministry of Public Works for consideration.
The Lolotoe community representative, Veneranda Santos, highlighted the anticipated effects of the road rehabilitation on population movements and on access to services.
“This means the Government has listened to our concerns and is seeking to resolve the problems we have faced for many years,” she stated.
Also, at the Lolotoe Administrative Post, the Minister of Public Works inaugurated a project to improve the water supply system.
The interventions in Bobonaro build on the Ministry of Public Works’ visits to municipalities to monitor and implement infrastructure projects. On the previous day, September 18th, Minister Samuel Marçal inaugurated new electrification and water supply systems in the Atsabe and Letefoho Administrative Posts in the municipality of Ermera.
In Ermera Municipality, the rehabilitation of the Lihu–Railaco Craic rural road was recently completed with fibre-reinforced concrete (FRC) pavement. The intervention was carried out under the Government of Timor-Leste-Government of Australia cooperation through the PARTISIPA programme, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works, municipal authorities, and local communities.
These interventions are part of ongoing efforts to improve road connections and expand community access to electricity, water, and other basic services in the municipalities.
TATOLI
