Overview:
Taiwan-funded projects are transforming communities across Palau, from safer roads and upgraded basketball gyms to renovated state offices. These capital improvements enhance safety, recreation, and public services, ensuring residents can work, play, and gather in more accessible, resilient spaces year-round.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
Koror, Palau (Jan. 5, 2026) Capital improvement projects funded through Taiwan’s Economic Stimulus Grant to Palau are reshaping everyday life in communities across Echang, Ngeruluobel, Ngchesar and Ngarchelong, delivering safer infrastructure, expanded recreational access and improved public spaces designed to serve residents year-round.
Though the projects vary in scope — from road paving and gym upgrades to state office renovations — they share a common goal: improving quality of life through practical investments that support safety, health and community connection.
In Ngchesar State, the completion of Phase XV of the Shimizu–Ngerngesang Road Paving Project added 500 linear feet of concrete roadway, extending a long-running effort to replace a rough dirt road with safe, all-weather access linking the Compact Road to Ngerngesang Village. The project builds on 14 earlier phases that paved 13,758 linear feet at a cost of $4.35 million, underscoring a sustained commitment to improving transportation in a remote area.
Officials said the road project enhances daily safety while making it easier for residents to reach schools, clinics and workplaces without navigating muddy or rutted conditions. The work reflects the administration’s broader focus on citizen safety and well-being, particularly in rural communities.
In Airai State, a once flood-prone basketball court in Ngeruluobel has been transformed into a reliable, year-round recreational space. The project included construction of an 87-by-109-foot steel-framed roof, elevated court pavement, improved drainage and a rebuilt seawall to protect against saltwater flooding, heavy rain and extreme sun exposure.
Previously, the open-air court frequently flooded during high tides or storms, limiting play — especially for youth. The upgraded facility now features improved lighting, a scoreboard, a shot clock, restrooms and better parking, restoring what officials described as a vital recreational hub in one of Airai’s most populous hamlets.
Similar benefits are being realized in Echang, where Phase II upgrades to the basketball gym introduced drop walls with louvers and skylights, a perimeter canopy, full fencing and extended flooring. New aluminum bleachers and movable basketball goals expand the gym’s flexibility for sports and community events, while a concrete perimeter walkway improves safety and accessibility for spectators.
The improvements ensure year-round play and gatherings, fostering physical fitness and social engagement for youth and families while protecting players and spectators from harsh weather conditions.
In Ngarchelong State, renovations to the state office building focused on improving safety, accessibility and functionality for public services. The project added reinforced concrete stairs, retaining walls and outdoor restrooms, along with site grading for a new parking area and 820 square feet of reinforced concrete pavement.
A new 72-by-36-foot single-story Assembly Hall now provides a dedicated space for meetings, hearings and community gatherings. The hall features reinforced concrete framing, insulated roofing, ceramic tile floors and full electrical and finishing work. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. said the upgrade embodies a commitment to every citizen’s well-being, drawing cheers from attendees.
Across all four locations, the projects emphasize safer infrastructure, expanded access to health and recreation, and more functional, welcoming spaces for public life. While funded through Taiwan’s Economic Stimulus Grant, the improvements reflect locally identified needs — whether protecting courts from flooding, improving road safety or modernizing government facilities.
Together, the projects demonstrate how targeted capital investments can strengthen community resilience and enhance the everyday spaces where people work, gather and play, delivering tangible benefits that extend well beyond construction completion.