100 houses for Planning and NBC staff

MORE than 100 houses will be built for officers of both the National Planning and Monitoring and National Broadcasting Corporation.
The NBC/National Planning home ownership scheme is the first joint-effort between the two government entities to house its officers at 5-Mile and 6-Mile area of Port Moresby.
National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten officiated at the ground breaking yesterday that was attended by Communications Minister Patrick Tammur, his secretary Henao Iduhu, NBC managing director Joseph Ealadona, NBC board chairman Paul Raptario, Public Employees Association president Michael Malabag and officers from both organisations.
Mr Tiensten, in his keynote address, reminded the Government of the need to house its citizens and for a housing policy to be in place under the private-public partnership (PPP) policy of the Government.
“Today marks a historical moment for the two Government departments to try and address housing problems that affect morale and productivity in both departments,” he said.
Mr Tammur said he was happy that two Government entities chose to be partners in the project that would go a long way in boosting morale in work and giving some sense of security to workers.
He said the NBC had a home ownership scheme established by law some years ago but, unfortunately, the scheme had stalled and needed to be reorganised.
“I look forward to coming back to 5-Mile at the end of this year to see a new landscape adding value to Port Moresby,” he said.
Mr Tammur said the new landscape would be in proximity to the world class hospital which will add bonus to this project.
The housing scheme came about after a memorandum of agreement (MoA) was signed by heads of both agencies last month.
Under the MoA, the DNPM agreed to help NBC provide necessary funding assistance for the renovation on the existing staff houses and build five new houses for NBC staff and DNPM agreed to construct more than 100 houses on the portion of land from NBC.
DNPM also agreed to help NBC secure funding for the new radio and television office complex.
Meanwhile, Mr Malabag said housing was one of the basic needs and the housing scheme would ensure public servants gave 100% commitment in driving Government programmes forward.