The National Lands and Physical Planning Department finally handed over two land titles to Housing Minister, Paul Isikiel this afternoon.
The land titles are for the Duran Farm outside Port Moresby and the portion of land at the back of the National Research Institute.
This means the government, through National Housing Estate Limited, a subsidiary of National Housing Corporation, can build more houses.
The Eda Tano conference room was packed with stakeholders and those with interest in the Duran Farm land development and Portion 2601 behind NRI.
Present was Lands Minister Benny Allan, his Secretary Romily Kila Pat, Housing Minister Paul Isikiel, Lands Board Chairman Sam Wange and NHEL Chief Executive Officer Madlene Paulisbo. Also there was the project investor.
Addressing the chronic shortage of housing in the city has been a major challenge.
The O’Neill-Dion government announced a housing policy to provide 40, 000 houses up to 2017. The issuance of land titles to Duran Farm and the portion of land behind NRI is a starting point in implementing that policy of 5, 000 houses, expected to be built on Duran Farm.
With the land titles issued, the onus is now on NHC’s subsidiary, National Housing Estate Limited, to subdivide the land to cater to public amenities.
Papua New Guineans are also encouraged to apply for houses as the government focuses on providing affordable homes for the average citizen.
Apart from this, there are also plans to build high-rise apartMen’s in prime locations in the city, targeting the high market class to rental purposes.
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