Prioritizing plans for road networks, sound economic policy, the expansion of infrastructure, the supply of pipe borne water to rural areas, the improvement of health services will preoccupy President Ellen Johnson’s first 150 days in office.

Delivering her annual message here Monday to the 53rd National Legislature, President Sirleaf said, “As proof of my government’s intent, in the next 150 days, we will lay out a plan for the construction of all major roads in Liberia over the next six years. By making it easier to travel between our cities, we will reduce the price of food and other commodities. We will make it easier for traders to move their goods around the country. This is investment in a just economy.”

She said, during the 150-day period, her government will “upgrade Monrovia’s wharf, dredge the ports of Monrovia and Greenville, and release a comprehensive plan for our airports and seaports to turn them into major hubs for commerce and trade in the region”.

Speaking under the theme “Reflecting the Past, Claiming the Future”, President Sirleaf   said “Our country may be small, but we can leverage our four ports to become the hubs of trade and commerce and the premier transport hub in the region.”

“While we expand physical infrastructure, we will continue to improve access to quality services for our people.  We have already increased treated water from 3 million gallons per day in 2010 to 5.5 million gallons a day in 2011, and moving toward a target of 11 million gallons by the end of the year. This will enable the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) to add 100,000 more customers to the 700,000 it currently serves,” the President asserted.

Saying that her government will partner with multilateral organizations to complete the restoration of pipe-borne water to Buchanan, Zwedru and Kakata, added: “And we are finalizing negotiations with our partners on the rehabilitation of facilities in Robertsport, Sanniquellie and Voinjama.”

She reported the competition of assessments in four cities in Nimba and Lofa Counties to develop facilities for pipe-borne water while the government is considering a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Coca-Cola Company to provide clean water to areas beyond the capacity of LWSC.

“Because we are expanding access to health and social services, the proportion of people living within five km of a health facility increased from 41 percent in 2006 to 71 percent in 2011, while the number of health facilities increased from 354 in 2006 to about 550 in 2011,” she reported.

She promised that  her government “will continue to provide resources to health centers and expand the healthcare workforce, whose numbers have increased from 3,966 in 2006 to 8,553 last year, and with the skilled birth attendant to population ratio increasing from less than one per 10,000 people in 2006 to six per 10,000 people in 2011.”

Beyond access to potable water and adequate health services, she said the government would tackle the people’s urgent need for decent shelter.

To address the housing deficit, the National Housing Authority (NHA) has concluded arrangements for the construction, in two phases, of a low- to middle-income housing community development in Schiefflin Town, with up to 600 units.

Other initiatives she enumerated include the NASSCORP/NHA Brewerville Project, the Buchanan Housing Project, and the NOCAL Housing Project. Also a long-term home mortgage finance program is being finalized to enhance this effort.

“Over the next six years, NHA will focus both on building affordable homes and providing complete urban environments, to serve as viable living alternatives to Monrovia.  This will help ensure a more decentralized and dispersed national population. Housing estates in Monrovia’s suburbs, neighboring Bomi and Margibi Counties will be used to decongest Monrovia,” the further said.

She acknowledged that land and land rights continue to constrain housing and agriculture programs, but indicated that the Land Commission will be given more support to address the excess or inappropriate use of land by concessions, the holding of undeveloped prime urban land, and the many areas of illegality relating to land use and purchases.

This, she said, will provide impetus to programs for prioritizing agriculture, with a focus on small farmers who represent the potential to ensure national food security.