Ground breaking for a new headquarter building for Tonga Broadcasting Commission was held on March 29. Funded by Japan, the building is part of a multi-million pa'anga grant aid project on Nationwide Early Warning System and Strengthening Disaster Communications (NEWS).

The ground breaking ceremony at Fasi moe Afi was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hon Semisi Sika and Japanese Ambassador HE Mr Tetsuya Ishii.

The Ambassador said the fundamental goal of this project is to alleviate damage caused by natural disasters, through the improvement of facilities and equipment for a disaster early warning information system, which will operate at a national level.

This project is a grant aid assistance from the people and the Government of Japan worth 2.8 billion Japanese Yen, equivalent to over $56 million pa’anga and formulated based on Japan’s Country Assistance Policy to Tonga.

"The NEWS project will deliver disaster warnings to everyone in Tonga in a prompt, interactive and stable manner."

He said the project's three main components are the Early Warning Sound Alert System with 75 outdoor sirens and 514 indoor Remote Activated Receivers (RARs); Emergency Radio Communication System strengthening network to distribute messages interactively and upgrading TBC headquarter broadcasting building and the Public Radio Broadcasting Network to expand coverage of the AM radio throughout the country including remote islands of Niuafo’ou and Niuatoputapu.

The Deputy PM said Japan’s assistance is regarded historical as the new building will replace the first broadcasting studio building for Tonga that was commissioned by Queen Sālote on July 4, 1961. 

"This is a high priority where early action is essential to save lives and to protect livelihood and property during the most challenging and difficult times of disaster and emergencies.”

In addition, the importance of this project is achieving the goals of the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

He thanked the people and Government of Japan for the worthy timely project and acknowledged the partnership.“Together we can save lives and properties of our people”.

The project is planned to be completed in the latter half of 2020.

Present were Hon. Poasi Tei Minister for MEIDECC, Cabinet Ministers, parliamentarians, representatives from National Disaster Management Agencies, TBC Board Members, JICA-Tonga officials, Japanese Representatives from the Projects stakeholders, among others.