Valuation Rolls to be officially handed over to ABG
The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) is set to receive its official Valuation Rolls next week.
This formal handover marks a major step forward in strengthening land governance and urban planning in Bougainville.
The formal handover ceremony will take place on Thursday 7th August at Bel Isi Park, Buka Town, where the PNG Valuer General will officially present the Valuation Rolls to the ABG Chief Secretary. Leading up to the event, a preparatory workshop will be held on Wednesday 6th August with participation from the ABG Department of Lands, Urban Town Councils of Buka, Arawa and Buin, regional business associations and the National Lands Department.
According to Secretary for Lands, Lynette Baratai-Pokas, this event is more than an administrative milestone—it is a foundational act of governance.
“What we are going to witness is not just a bureaucratic process or a data collection exercise. The Valuation Roll is fundamental to how we plan, manage, and sustain our urban centres into the future,” she said.
She explained that the Valuation Roll strengthens broader land administration functions, including setting land rentals, guiding zoning and planning, resolving disputes, attracting fair investment, and ensuring transparency in land dealings.
“Simply put, we cannot manage what we do not measure. The Valuation Roll gives us the baseline we need to plan wisely, budget honestly, and act accountably,” she added.
Ms. Zoe Eyal, Acting Director for Technical Services division in the ABG Lands Department, further emphasized the significance of this handover, particularly in the post-crisis context.
“The Valuation Rolls are governed by the PNG Valuation Act of 1967 and administered by the PNG Valuer General—powers Bougainville has yet to draw down. We’ve been working with the National Lands Department since 2022 to have this important activity come to fruition,” she said.
She noted that this will be the first formal presentation of valuation rolls to Bougainville since the 1980s.
“We envision this will be our baseline that we will build upon. This exercise will help establish future regulations for valuing developments on customary land and set a base for Bougainville to move forward,” Ms. Eyal said.
The program will include the participation of the Valuer General, the Secretary for the National Department of Lands and Physical Planning, and other senior officials. The general public is invited to witness the formal handover on Thursday 7th August at Bel Isi Park in Buka Town.
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