Bankers benefit from GoPNG and BSP partnership

100 Bank South Pacific (BSP) employees were recipients of land allotments under the National Affordable Land and Housing scheme. Their names were drawn from a ballot, witnessed by BSP management, Office of Urbanisation, National Planning and the media today

The National Affordable Lands and Housing Program was set up by the Government to assist Papua New Guineans to have the opportunity to own a home.

 The scheme will be co-ordinated by the Office of Urbanisation to assist Papua New Guineans to purchase or build affordable home in main centres throughout PNG.

 National Planning Acting Secretary Makaua Harry said it was the Government's intention for Papua New Guineans to own a house.

"With the help of the O'Neill/Dion Government this is one the first event that we've come out to witness the presentation of the process we've undertaken and that titles are given as the objective of this program," Ms Harry said.

 Director of the Office of Urbanisation Max Kep said that working hard to make the program a success.

"There are a lot of partners who are in this project to make it work and our job is to co-ordinate the allocation to various agencies, including this allocation given to BSP." Mr Kep said.

 BSP Chief Executive Officer Robin Fleming thanked the government on behalf of the employees and management of the bank for the allotments.

"The interest seen within BSP and the number of people, who want to own a house, reinforces the idea that land is a basic need and a requirement, particularly in the urban areas of PNG. We must have affordable housing for staff of all organisations to be able to live in," Mr Fleming said.

 "We do realise the issues that arise in Port Moresby, in particular the absence of formal housing and with informal housing and the issues that come with it," he said.

Under the Scheme, eligible Papua New Guineans who satisfy the set criteria will go into the First Home Ownership Scheme (FHOS) to finance the cost of constructing their own house within two years.

 The applicant will have an option to choose a Low, Medium or High cost house depending on affordability and the properties have to be a kit home purchased from the approved suppliers for this Scheme.

 The National Government has allocated 100 allotments of land to BSP , the scheme will be been piloted in the National Capital District at Gerehu Stage 3B.

 The success of the project will see it rolled out into other centres nationwide.