National Housing Infrastructure is one of the Key Priority Areas under Marape-Rosso Government’s flagship Connect PNG Program. Connect PNG Program is Strategic Priority Area (SPA) No. 2 under the Medium Term Development Plan IV [2023-2027]. This includes not only provision of affordable housing in cities and towns, but the Districts to improve the living standards of the people.
The MTDP IV projects Government investment of K640 million over 5 year for this program. The investment focuses on 4 investment areas: (1) institutional housing development for national government institutions and agencies; (2) District Public Service Housing Program; (3) Provincial Public Service Housing Program; and (4) National Affordable Housing Program.
There are 8 KRA which focuses on institutional houses and public servants and national and sub-national levels, and public servants home ownership schemes, obtaining and loans and land availability.
The indicators though have these:
- Proportion of population living in traditional dwelling home (%)
- Proportion of population living in semi-permanent homes (%)
- Proportion of population living in permanent homes (%)
- Proportion of people living in modern homes (%)
- Proportion of public servants living in institutional housing (%)
- Proportion of estimated population living in urban shanty settlements (%)
- Proportion of government institutions, including provinces and districts, with public service housing (%)
- Average rental costs in urban centres.
Over the years, the Government had various housing schemes for the public servants and millions of kina parked with commercial banks to manage. I am a recipient of that, years ago when I was a public servant. For that I’m grateful. The program continues and we need a different approach. I find the disconnect in MTDP.
I find a disconnect between the key investment areas and the key indicators for housing infrastructure in the MTDP IV. If we are to assess the proportion of people living in traditional kunai and saksak houses then there must be specific investments for that. I have always thought that our rural village people should also be participants in any national housing infrastructure program, not only urban-dwelling citizens.
The Marape-Rosso Government’s increased funding in infrastructure should cater for housing needs of rural village people who live in traditional houses so we can address 3 of the indicators. And Rai Coast District is doing exactly that.
Our District Housing Program has 3 Components
- Institutional houses for teachers, healthcare workers, police, and public servants throughout the District, including Saidor District Headquarters;
- Public servants home ownership scheme (long-term plan); and
- Village Housing Program (Rausim Morota. Putim Kapa).
Village Housing Program
We have commenced our Village Housing Program. State land has been identified at Basamuk. Order for kapa processing made and machinery in production. Initial groundwork done to establish the kapa factory. Our village housing guideline is that you set up the frame of the house and apply for kapa. Kapa will be given to you free after our officers visit your project site and confirm with our checklist.
The machines have been purchased and will take 3 months production and then shipping. Expecting to be here around May. Very grateful to the Uyam family at Bobadik within Basamuk plant area who have State land with clear title that we are in discussion with for lease.
We are establishing at Basamuk because that is in central Rai Coast. It will be easier for our people to travel shorter distance. We are in the process of determining how we will implement that in Nahu Rawa LLG. We may come up with partnership another nearby District who is also implementing the program.
Institutional Houses for Public Servants
For institutional housing, we have built many already, opened some and we continue to build. Some already opened includes 3 run down and abandoned ones we renovated at Saidor station and opened in December 2023. We opened Erima Junior High School principal’s house and building the deputy principal’s. 2x health staff houses at Erima Health Post, 2x teacher houses at Bugadjim Primary School. We opened 1 already and second one under construction. 1x principal’s house at Bugati Junior High School, Teacher houses at Mibu, Gwarowan, Tapen in Nayudo LLG, Naiko in Nahu Rawa, to name a few. We also funded classroom for a school on Tewae-Siassi District (Ronji) that shares border with and our kids go to school there, too.
Some brief updates in pictures. Hover mouse over image for info.
Great job going forward for your District inline with the MTDS IV and Vision 2050.
Thank you for everything that you have done, and yet to be done under your leadership Hon. Sawang. I am requesting you to look into subsidising school fee for tertiary students in your district.