Asukusa lauds Government
 

NATIONAL Housing Corporation managing director Paul Asukusa last week expressed his sincere gratitude to the Somare-Temu Government for recognising the importance of public sector housing in the country.
Mr Asukusa said the K40 million allocation from the supplementary budget announced by the Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch marked the first time since the 1990s for direct Government funding for housing.
“This is the first time any Government has placed housing as budget priority to human resource development and wealth creation for our public sector,” he said.
Mr Asukusa said the public sector housing stock inherited from the colonial times had been greatly depleted due to wear and tear and lack of Government funding for any rehabilitation over the years.
Mr Asukusa said NHC as the mandated State entity on housing would now take appropriate action to build new houses for public servants and their families.
He also thanked the Public Service Minister Peter O’Neill, Housing Minister Andrew Kumbakor, Mr Pruaitch and Sir Michael Somare for their commitment, not only to the public servants but for the greater well-being of Papua New Guineans.
“In line with Government policies, NHC’s focus is to develop more houses and improve settlements to meet basic human needs and improve quality of life and better living environment to stimulate growth in the housing and economic sector as well,” he said.
Mr Asukusa said development of housing and settlements had a direct link to a healthy attitude that could trigger positive development in other social and economic sectors.