Vakai ki lalo ki he fakamatala faka-Tonga
Hahake residents joined Hon Lord Ma’afu Tukui’aulahi in launching the foreshore protection measure construction works in Eastern Tongatapu on August 15 at Talafo’ou.
The construction work is expected to be carried out by the BB Construction Ltd and it is due to be completed by February 2015.
Known as "Trialling of Coastal Protection measures in eastern Tongatapu" the project aims at protecting 5 coastal communities (Nukuleka, Makaunga, Talafo'ou Navutoka and Manuka) from coastal erosion, inundation, sea level rise and most importantly building resilience to climate change.
The project was funded by European Union(EU), and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and is implemented by the Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Island States (SPC-EU GCCA: PSIS).
The EU-GCCA Project National Coordinator, Mr. Manu Manuofetoa, said the European Union has generously provided Tonga and other 8 pacific Island countries, who are also recipients of this project, with E0.5 million each to implement their own adaptation project based on their key priority areas.
Mr. Manuofetoa also said the event was just an internal ground breaking ceremony within the MECCDMMIC and the pilot communities.
He said the community had planned a small scale ground breaking ceremony but eagerly anticipates greater celebration at the completion of the construction works where other donors and other key stakeholders will be invited.
Other guests who attended the launch included Mr. Paula Ma'u, CEO Ministry of Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Disaster Management, Meteorology, Information and Communications (MECCDMMIC), Mr. 'Asipeli Palaki, CEO Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Lu'isa Tu'i'afitu Malolo Director Climate Change, Tongatapu People Representative No. 10 Semisi Tapueluelu, Senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and Communications, Kalio Moala, Lapaha district officer, Town officers and people from the 5 coastal communities (Nukuleka,Makaunga, Talafo'ou, Navutoka and Manuka).
