Major facelift for WHP Works and Highways Division after decades
For decades, staff of the Department of Works and Highways worked from aging and rundown offices.
Now, a new modern facility in Mt Hagen will change the way they work and deliver services.
The newly opened Mukapena Haus is not just another government building - it represents a shift in how the Department supports its workforce on the ground.
Opened by Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa and Works Secretary Gibson Holemba, the facility is designed to improve working conditions for engineers and officers responsible for roads and bridges across the Highlands region.
Under the Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Program [SHHIP], the project is aimed on strengthening the Department’s capacity, starting with its workforce.
Secretary Holemba says better office space means better planning, coordination, and delivery of road projects under the Connect PNG Program.
“When we improve our working environment, we improve how we plan and deliver our projects. This building will help our officers perform better out in the field," Holemba says.
He emphasized that while the government continues to invest heavily in roads and bridges, the people behind the work must also be properly supported.
“The government is investing billions into roads and bridges, but we must also invest in our people, our systems, and our facilities to deliver those projects effectively," Secretary Holemba stressed.
Costing K7.3 million and funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the building provides a modern and professional environment-something many staff have gone without for years.
The project is expected to be replicated in other regions, giving more provincial offices a similar upgrade.
But with the new facility comes responsibility. Secretary Holemba urged staff to take ownership and maintain the building.
"This is your building. You must take care of it, use it properly, and make sure it serves you for many years to come.”
"Do not chew betel nut or spit in the building as it has cost a lot of money by the government to build," warned Holemba.
Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa says the investment is timely, as Western Highlands continues to prioritise infrastructure development.
He noted that improving working conditions for government officers, as in this instance, will directly impact service delivery to the people.
“When our public servants are given better facilities, they will deliver better services to our people. This is what development is all about," Governor Rapa says.
The Governor also highlighted that many Works Department assets are outdated, and this upgrade signals a long-overdue transformation.
The Westeen Highlands Governor then unveiled the stone plaque marking the opening and use of the new Mukapena Haus.
The Mukapena Haus, a two-storey complex, will also house key partners including the Institute of Engineers PNG (IEPNG) and the Road Traffic Authority (RTA), putting togther key offices under one roof.
The message is clear now for the department of works and highway staff here in Mt Hagen and the region; better tools, better environment, and higher expectations to deliver results.