Tkatchenko happy with Manu flats renovation

By Cyril GareThe government has expressed satisfaction and confidence in the major renovation works currently undertaken by contractors currently at eh National Housing Corporation (NHC) flats at Manu Autoport in Port Moresby.When briefed on the progress last week, Housing and Urbanization Minister Justin Tkatchenko said he was satisfied with the work so far.Mr. Tkatchenko said he was optimistic contractors would deliver within the 5 months times frame.He said all other NHC properties in Port Moresby will follow suit and undergo major renovations this year.He said these properties include 3 Mile Red Cross flats, 5 Mile flats, Angau Drive flats, korobosea flats, NBC flats East Boroko, 4 Mile Hostel- adjacent to old PIH, Hohola New Generation Hostel, and Dorido hostel at June Valley among others.Minister Tkatchenko said that this signifies the governments seriousness in providing low cost affordable housing for Papua New Guineans and “wrestle the bull by it’s horn”, attributing to the NHC from 30 years of neglect and corruption.NHC’s multi-million-kina flagship project, the Duran fFarm housing Project in Port Moresby where more than 2, 000 affordable homes were to be built.He said under Henry Mokono- as new permanent managing director, NHC has taken stock of all its properties and assets nationwide and similar maintenance works woykld bwgfin soon.Work started at the Manu Autoport property on November 22, 2021 which covered the four allotments comprising of 16 units. Meanshile, NHC’s executive director for corporate services and administration Mr. Martin Tau said contractors have taken down badly rotten walls, louvers, fly wires, window frames and interior structures of the building which haven’t had such a renovation for over 30 to 40 years. On November 3, 2021, NHC managing director, Henry Mokono visited Manu Autoport tenants and their families and announced the K4 million facelift plan.“and since the good minister came into this place, we’ve made some decisions and we’ve made many decisions to turn this organization that people in PNG will respect. We do things by the book. We do things accordingly to law, that should be the way this place should be run. We do things correctly. We do things honestly. We do things transparently, we got to be accountable for our decision making”, he said.Mr. Mokono vows to clean up the NCH and instill a new corporate image to the organization through accountability, transparency and good governance.Mr. Mokono’s major tasks include; creating a new staff structure to see down-sizing of NHC workforce from 380 to 218 and saving government of K6 million in wages annually; revamping and deliervinf the stalled Duran Farm housing project: renovation the NHC Tokarara headquarters which has already been allocated K10 million by the government; cleansing and prosecution of those engaged in corruption and the mess at NHC and restoring public confidence in the organisation.