The soon-to-rise 3-storey building on the current site of Finance, Social Security, Labor and other government offices, will not displace Ernguul Park but will complement and enhance it, according to Director Brian Melairei of Public Works and CIP Office.
The facility is expected to house various national government services, State services as well as some State-owned enterprises such as PPUC and PNCC. It is envisioned as one-stop-shop where a person can get all the needed services in one place rather than going all over Koror.
Concerns that the new building will displace Ernguul Park or cause the trees around the site to be cut down are dispelled by Director Melairei who explained some of the considerations and assessments being taken on the project.
Some of those considerations include increasing parking space in front, having an open plaza to compliment Ernguul Park, showcasing Palau’s unique culture, energy efficiency, showcasing initiatives in solid waste management and promoting healthy and active living.
The current site of Finance, Labor, Social Security and other government offices is a jumble of structures of varying types of construction. The current offices have lot of dead spaces between and unused space in back toward the baseball field.
Plans are being drawn to maximize those dead spaces, allow for more parking and more efficient use of space.
Stakeholders workshop is expected to be conducted soon to obtain public feedback on the project before finalizing the design.
The facility is expected to cost around $500k. (L.N. Reklai)