President Panuelo Launches the FSM Strategic Climate-Oriented Road Enhancements (SCORE) Project; World Bank Funds Road Projects in Every FSM State, Also Addresses Discarded Vehicles & Materials Testing

PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On August 25th, 2022, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—launched the FSM Strategic Climate-Oriented Road
Enhancements (SCORE) Project. Funded by the World Bank as part of the President’s Pave the
Nation Program, the SCORE Project will result in twelve (12) miles of secondary roads across the
FSM, as well as address the problem of discarded vehicles around the country, and provide funding
for setting up a materials testing laboratory to improve the quality of road construction works.

The SCORE Project represents approximately $35,250,000 of funding, and is complementary with
the FSM Priority Road Improvements & Management Enhancements (PRIME) Project, with one of
the key distinctions between the two projects being that the SCORE Project focuses on secondary
roads while the PRIME Project focuses on primary and/or arterial roads and bridges. Altogether,
there is approximately $75,250,000 of World Bank funding for the road sector in the FSM.

The SCORE Project includes funding for each of the FSM’s States. For the State of Pohnpei, there
is funding to construct the road access to Nan Madol, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the
road between Kolonia Town proper and the Nanpohnmal power plant. For the State of Chuuk,
there is funding to construct the East and West Pou Bay roads. For the State of Kosrae, there is
funding for the road from Muntunennea to Sialat. For the State of Yap, there is funding for the road
from Dugor to Bael (in Weloy Municipality).

One of the elemental goals of the Pave the Nation Program, including the SCORE Project and the
PRIME Project, is to construct roads that can withstand the extreme weather events the Nation is
experiencing with visibly increasing frequency. “Just three weeks ago,” the President said, “We
experienced an extreme rainfall event here in Pohnpei which resulted in extensive damage to our
road network, with some sections completely washed away, and residents unable to access their
homes or to travel for their normal daily lives. Climate-resilient roads are one of the ways our
country can ensure that citizens are able to access essential public services, including schools and
hospitals, and so we extend our deepest gratitude to the World Bank for their kind attention to the
development needs of our country and People.”

In his remarks, President Panuelo explicitly thanked the World Bank for its generous support of the
FSM, including the Pave the Nation Program. A special word of thanks was directed to Degi Young,
the World Bank Resident Representative, and to Sean Michaels and Anita Shrestha, the World Bank
Task Team Leaders, and that thanks is reproduced here to amplify the FSM Government’s gratitude
to each of them.

With the States of Yap, Kosrae, and Pohnpei implementing fully open borders (with Chuuk State to
open on November 1st), three consulting teams have arrived into the FSM, and are working on the
assessment and design of the road program. President Panuelo has called upon the Department of
Transportation, Communication, & Infrastructure (as the implementing agency), and the
Department of Finance & Administration (as the executing agency) to ensure that relevant SCORE
Project timelines are diligently followed, and that all stakeholders work supportively to attain the
Project’s goals and objectives.

“The FSM SCORE Project is now officially launched. Thank you,” the President concluded.