The Ministry of Development plays a role in emphasising the well-being of the people through the provision of sustainable, safe, inclusive and resilient national infrastructure development, a role in line with the goals of Brunei Vision 2035, which aims to produce educated, highly skilled and successful citizens.

Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid said this in his opening remarks during the Second Meeting of the 21st Legislative Council Session yesterday.

The ministry’s national key performance indicators (KPI) under the Brunei Vision 2035 include: achieving an 85-per-cent home ownership rate by 2035; access and maintenance of water supply quality meeting World Health Organization’s standards, with a target of 100 per cent by 2035; number of new buildings meeting accessibility requirements through different abilities design guidelines (DADG) with a target of 100 per cent by 2035; and reducing waste generation, with a target of one kilogramme per person per day by 2035.

To date, the home ownership rate in the country is at 68 per cent. To achieve the target of 85 per cent, the ministry continues to intensify efforts by planning and implementing housing projects in phases.

Among the main initiatives that are currently and have been implemented are the completion of 1,000-unit houses in the Kampong Lugu National Housing Plan (Phase 1), and 950-unit house projects in the Tanah Jambu National Housing Plan (Phase 7) – currently 74 per cent complete.

Several new housing projects under the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12) will be implemented and are expected to provide at least 1,600 housing units, including; Kampong Lugu National Housing Plan Phase 2B, covering an area of 86 hectares (ha) where 576 housing units will be built; Kampong Rimba National Housing Plan Phase 6, covering an area of 26ha where 330 housing units will be built; Kampong Salambigar National Housing Plan, covering an area of 32ha where 300 housing units will be built; and Kampong Lumut National Housing Plan Phase 7, covering an area of 50ha where 400 housing units will be built.

The Housing Development Department has identified 19 new land sites in all four districts for future housing development. An additional five new sites in the Brunei-Muara, Tutong, and Belait Districts, are in the initial study stage to assess their suitability as housing development locations.

This is to ensure that housing development sites are planned and available, as well as to guarantee the continuity of the implementation of the national housing programme in a sustainable and phased manner, said the minister.

Other initiatives being undertaken by the ministry is to increase the provision of more viable houses on a larger scale and cost-effectively.

It is hoped that through this effort, alternative methods will be explored to provide houses through alternative financing, including exploring alternative methods of producing houses through alternative allocations or financing such as private public partnership; use of efficient construction technology in the provision of sustainable and controlled houses; use of quality and sustainable materials and products; more inclusive design of housing units meeting the needs of the people in the country including the whole family, senior citizens and individuals with special needs; designs that take into account environmental components such as saving water consumption and saving energy; and optimising land use, namely by introducing vertical development. – Lyna Mohamad

(News & pic source: Borneo Bulletin)