By ESWIN PLESIO
PUBLIC servants at the Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) are set to benefit from new housing opportunities following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the department and the National Housing Corporation (NHC).
The agreement marks the start of a partnership aimed at helping eligible DoWH employees secure land and eventually own their own homes.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, National Housing Corporation Minister Kobby Bomareo announced that 50 allotments have been set aside for eligible public servants under the initiative.
Minister Bomareo said the MoU reflects a government-to-government approach, with state agencies working together to improve the welfare of public servants and deliver practical outcomes for the people they serve.
“At the end of the day, we want everyone to have houses,” he said, adding that the partnership demonstrates the government’s commitment to making home ownership more achievable for working Papua New Guineans.
He said providing access to land is an important step towards improving the lives of public servants and their families while creating opportunities for long-term security and stability.
Department of Works and Highways Secretary Gibson Holemba welcomed the collaboration, saying it is about creating real opportunities for the people who keep the department running.
“We want to partner and work together, focusing on and empowering our staff,” Holemba said.
He described the agreement as more than just a formal arrangement, saying it shows what can be achieved when government agencies work together with a shared purpose.
Under the arrangement, the 50 allotments will be made available to eligible DoWH officers, giving them an opportunity to secure land and build homes for themselves and their families.
The signing of the MoU is expected to be the first step in a closer working relationship between the two agencies, with both DoWH and NHC looking to expand opportunities that improve the welfare of public servants. For many employees, the initiative offers a practical pathway towards owning a home that may have otherwise been out of reach.