Gerehu drive to get overdue facelift

Caption:  (L) Moresby North-West MP Micheal Malabag and Governor Powes Parkop

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

DESCRIBED as the shame of Gerehu by NCD Governor Powes Parkop- the Gerehu Drive road that is the entrance road into the suburb of Gerehu and one could say an eyesore to motorists, will now be a thing of the past thanks to the Member for Moresby North-West Micheal Malabag.

In a brief ceremony yesterday the member and long time Gerehu resident, Governor Parkop took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the main road with the K5 million project to be undertaken by Pheonix Builders Limited.

Speaking to those who witnessed the ceremony, Mr Malabag revealed that the project would lead to the sealing of the Nigibata Road also which is a side entrance road into the suburb, linking up with the Stage 6 area.

“Just as we have an action governor here for our city, so have you got though me your member, and we will work together to make sure that we bring important services like roads,” Malabag said.

Speaking as a longtime resident of the suburb, Governor Parkop said that as the biggest in the city it still was isolated to services that improve the living of residents like banking, medical, and post offices.

“The only services we have access to are shop, and we have to improve our image before we get other decent services, and roads are a factor to that,” Parkop said.

“Accessibility is vital and you must take ownership of this service that your member is providing.”

“This road is the face of Gerehu and the face of all 20,000 plus residents.”

He said that with the improvement of the road, he would work with the MP to beautify it to give a positive impression to what was once considered one of the most notorious suburbs in the city.