FM100 gets the nod to cover entire Hela region

RADIO station FM100 will provide radio coverage to the 300,000 people of Hela in the Southern Highlands.
The arrangement was sealed yesterday with a presentation of K200,000 by Hela Transitional Authority chairman James Marape to Kalang advertising chief executive officer Reuben Kautu.
“This is an important juncture in the administration of HTA towards preparing Hela to reach a full provincial status by 2012,” Marape said at the presentation.
“Communication is priority number three for HTA, and we want to ensure Hela is connected to the outside world.”
Marape said when people look at the radio coverage map of Papua New Guinea, there was a blank spot in the middle.
“The K200,000 to FM100 will help fill that gap.”
He said the coverage provided by FM100 would keep the people of Hela informed of what was happening around the country and throughout the world.
Marape said the Hela region was hosting 80% of the LNG but, unfortunately, there had been a lot of misinformation circulating in the area.
“With the LNG project coming on stream, we need correct information disseminated and also the people on the ground can have the opportunity to be heard by their leaders.”
He also commended Digicel and Telikom for their continuous improvement in capacities in the Hela region.
He said PNG Power had also come good during discussions to set up a generator to power the Tari-Pori district and nearby electorates.
“I appeal to the people of Hela to remain in Tari and not migrate to Port Moresby as things will change for the good in the near future.”
Kalang chief executive officer Kautu said the board of Kalang advertising was grateful of the initiative by the HTA chairman and state minister to fund the 500 watt transmitter that would increase FM100’s coverage network up to 90% of the total 47 radio coverage areas in the country.
Kautu said the people of Tari-Pori electorate and surrounding areas of Komo, Margarima, Nipa, Wiapu, Tambera, Idawi, Kobalu and Tambera would now be part of FM100 listeners who would also be better informed about what is going on around the country.
He said this would give the opportunity for people to participate in the social, economic and other developmental issues, either relating to or outside of the LNG project that is affecting their communities, families, electorate, province and the country as a whole.