Renovations on the condemned National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) building in Morobe is set to start this week, almost a year after it was closed down last year.
NBC’s Deputy Managing Director, Joe Wafewa said most of the organizations buildings around the country are run down. With the funds allocated by the national government this year, Mr. Wafewa said they are renovating provincial offices starting with Gulf, Morobe, and New Ireland.
“We are fortunate that the government decided to give us some money this year. They have allocated about eight million kina this year, to help us renovate and revamp our buildings and equipment.”
“…We have started the project with NBC Kerema…The building has been condemned for so many years. We have done that and it is about 90 percent complete now.”
The NBC Morobe office was opened in October 1971 by Donatus Mola, who was then the Assistant Ministerial Member for the Department of Information and Extension Services.
Over the years, not much maintenance was done to the building.
Last year, the building was condemned after being deemed unsafe for staff. The roof was damaged, and water was leaking through the ceiling. During this period, the station also went off air for several months as staff were forced to move to a temporary office to continue the service for the five hundred thousand plus listeners in the province.
Five hundred thousand Kina has been allocated for NBC Morobe’s renovations, contractors will start work this week and are expected to complete renovations by December.
“We are going through the process and the national planning and monitoring office has been really helping us and backing us on this project. And we want this service complete so that we give this service back to the people of Morobe.” Mr. Wafewa said.
“And after this we want to do Kavieng also. We want to do Kavieng for people of New Ireland.”
NBC Morobe’s Acting Director Provincial Radio (DPR) Carol Umbo said the renovation is timely as they are approaching fifty years since the stations establishment in Morobe in the next two years.
“Two weeks from now will be our 48th anniversary and that is an achievement for us as a radio station, with or without support we have made it by delivering our obligation, that is to inform, educate, and entertain our people.”
By Lucy Kopana – EMTV News, Lae
