By Staycey Yalo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Residents living inside the Finance and Treasury Compound at Walala are calling on the National Capital District Commission to upgrade the deteriorating road within the compound. Since 2000, when the compound was constructed, the roads have been left to worsen over the years leaving residents, at times, to patch the road themselves.
However, NCDC Governor, Powes Parkop, has made a personal commitment to upgrade and seal the road.
For most parts of the road in the compound, the bitumen cannot be seen, because over the years residents have been using soil to patch most parts of the road and without the proper upgrade, the road seems like it has never been sealed before.
For residents such as Orlando Wangillen, driving back and forth is a hassle, and especially driving on the same road condition for years. Mr. Wangillen said Walala houses many current and former bureaucrats and the residents there are genuine taxpayers and as such, their road should be given a face-lift.
While the NCD Governor made a commitment to seal the road, Parkop also told EMTV News that it was a legacy problem with home ownership schemes that do not reach proper agreements with NCDC and state agencies involved, so that their roads can be repaired. Normally, an agency whether public or private enters into an agreement with NCDC under the Physical Planning Laws for them to build the roads and other infrastructure, and for NCDC to take over after three or so years.
Parkop says all home ownership schemes such as PTC Housing in Waigani, Air Niugini Villages, NPF at 9 Mile and so on in the 1980’s to the 1990’s in the city have failed to meet such an agreement.
“I am determined that we should sort this out as the residents are equal taxpayers and residents of the city so we will do the road soon,” said Parkop.
Nevertheless, Parkop confirmed that Walala Compound will receive an upgrade after a scope and cost of work is conducted on the road and work will commence.
