Admin works to improve access roads for schools and villages — for safety’s sake

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Lemanu-Talauega Administration is taking four key actions to improve village and school access roads to allow medical personnel or staff to respond in a timely manner, to prevent the spread of the pandemic, and to ensure the safety within the school community and village in case there is a need to evacuate.

In a press release issued yesterday, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga said improving existing access roads is deemed necessary for the well-being and safety of our children.

“As we continue to confront the challenges of COVID-19, improving access routes for emergency evacuation of village schools is vital during the pandemic to minimize learning loss for our village schools located on the steep mountain range,” stated Governor Lemanu. He continued, “Investments in infrastructure are investments for a better tomorrow for our students as they deserve the best.”

The four actions include:

•           PREVENTION/MITIGATION the ability to contain the spread of the pandemic with a view to reducing or eliminating impacts on the school community and the environment.
•           PREPAREDNESS if an emergency occurs within the village school, resources and services are capable of responding to the affected areas appropriately.
•           RESPONSE village aumaga will have the ability to control, limit, or modify the emergency and reduce its consequences by ensuring evacuees are transported to a health facility in a timely manner.
•           RECOVERY compromising the results of activities and services to support the reconstruction of physical infrastructure and to manage preparedness after emergency situations.

The American Samoa Department of Education’s American Rescue Plan Funds will be used to implement these preparedness plans to improve access routes in an effort to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from the pandemic and natural disasters with little to no disruption to our students' learning environment.

 “Other challenges students face are the poor road conditions during heavy rains which have resulted in damaged school supplies or a missed school day,” the governor added saying, "Thus, improved access roads will allow students to get to and from school efficiently and most importantly safely amidst these occurrences.”

COMPLETED ACCESS ROADS:

Amanave, Poloa, Fagali’i, Afono-Vatia, Mapusaga/Tafeta, Vaitogi, Maloata, and Fagamalo