THE re-establishment of the Public Works Department remains a priority and this would be strategically driven by the incoming permanent secretary, says Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau.

“The ministry has taken some proactive measures in purchasing necessary machines as part of the $5million allocated for the financial year and this has gone through the Tender Boards,” said Ro Filipe in Parliament.

He said the dismantling of the PWD by the FijiFirst government was a national disaster of major proportions. “Government facilities have deteriorated in the last 16 years under FijiFirst.

“Just go around the country and look at the PWD depots, government quarters, hospitals and others.

PWD teams used to man the CWM Hospital, Government House and Parliament on a 24-hour basis. Just imagine and you dismantled that, this was taken away by you.”

Ro Filipe added that the Department of Government Buildings and Architects have completed a draft National Building Code which would undergo further consultation with some key agencies.

“The Department continues to service the Ministry and Government in terms of scoping, drawing and costing of new government buildings and maintenance.”