28th October, 2022 Japanese Ambassador to Tonga, H.E Mr. MUNENAGA Kensaku led a half-day press tour program on October 26 for local journalists to project sites funded by the Government and People of Japan.

The project sites included the Capacity Development of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) using Telemedicine under Covid-19 (ICU container) at the Vaiola Hospital and the new Tonga Broadcasting Commission Building through the Introduction of Nationwide Early Warning System (NEWS) and Strengthening Disaster Communications.

H.E Mr. Kensaku MUNENAGA said, “In 2020 and in 2021, due to the severe border restrictions for COVID-19, Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects were hindered because Japanese technicians were unable to come to Tonga. Without having new ODA projects, a press tour doesn’t make sense.”

Project for Capacity Development of ICU using Telemedicine under COVID-19

The Capacity Development of ICU using Telemedicine under Covid-19 Project was worth approximately TOP$7.8 million and was funded through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to an official request from the Tongan Government to the Government of Japan.

The implementing agency was the Ministry of Health and the project’s overall goal was to strengthen Tonga’s medical care services to ensure the critically ill patients from Covid-19 as well as other diseases are well treated.

The components of the project included:

1. Provision of Trainings on intensive cares (including diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases), operation of ICU telemedicine system conducted on remote basis by Japanese doctors and nurse specialized in intensive care.
2. Provision of 14 containers unit include five ICU rooms, utilities facilities, and staff room. The facility is also equipped with medical equipment necessary for ICU operations, such as mobile digital X-ray machine, Electrocardiogram, mobile ventilator, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment for telemedicine.

NEWS Project

The Ministry of MEIDECC submitted the first multi-hazard early warning project (NEWS) for Tonga to the Japanese Embassy on behalf of the Tongan Government in Nuku’alofa on February 1, 2016.

CEO for MEIDECC Mr Paula Ma’u said, “The proposal was based on Tonga’s vulnerability to natural disasters and the need for a proper nationwide early warning systems.”

“Its prime objective is to save lives by promoting social and economic development through the improvement of disaster information dissemination in the Kingdom of Tonga.”

The total budget for this project was around TOP$59 million.

The project’s components were:

1. Emergency Radio Communications – tsunami early warnings can be broadcasted immediately from Tonga Meteorological Services (TMS) to all responsible agencies for public dissemination. The system can be utilized as robust and reliable radio communications network amongst disaster related organizations for immediate response.
2. Early Warning Sound Alert System – the system will disseminate advanced public warnings as well as advices for immediate evacuation from TMS/NEMO using outdoor and indoor sound devices [Loud Speaker Sirens/Remote Activation Receiver (RAR)].
3. MW Radio Broadcasting System – TBC MW Radio Broadcasting System covers the whole of Tonga, improvement of the system infrastructure and reception quality throughout the remote islands [TBC HQ Building, MW Transmitter and FM Re-transmission System].

The Implementing Agency for this project was the Ministry of MEIDECC and Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC).

The tour was attended by journalists from TBC, BroadCom FM, Matangi Tonga Online, Kele’a, Kakalu Newspaper, FM 88.6, Prime Minister’s Office and Tonga Portal.

ENDS

Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications

Photo Credit: Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga

28th September, 2022 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a commissioned Tonga Broadcasting Commission’s new studio yesterday, marking the completion of the multi-million Nationwide Early Warning System and Strengthening Disaster Communications Project (NEWS) funded by the Government and the People of Japan.

HRH Tupoutu’a said, Her Late Majesty Queen Salote Tupou III, over 60 years ago commissioned Tonga’s first radio broadcasting studio called the ZCO of the Tonga Broadcasting Commission on July 4, 1961.

“In Her Address, she emphasized that this is a significant milestone where broadcasting and communications services transcend beyond borders, to foster working together, education and common understanding in a timely manner to achieve peace and happiness to all subjects.”

 
Photo Credit: Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga

He said the new studio building is a “modern system and fully equipped with a purpose and the truth to saving lives wherever and whenever, is required.”

“Our calling today is preparing ourselves to help those in needs, those in despair, those who may be dying from extreme event of natural disasters and worst impact of climate change. We can just imagine that, that critical moment of crying out for survival.”

“We can save them with this system. And this is resilience in facing challenges of our time.”

Photo Credit: Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga

Japanese Ambassador to Tonga H.E. Mr. Kensaku MUNENAGA said, the project strengthens “Tonga’s capacity for risk management and its resilience against disasters” through the improvement of three systems – Emergency Radio Communication System, Early Warning Sound Alert System and Medium Wave Radio Broadcasting System.

He stated that new telecommunication system covers the whole of Tonga and the “nationwide network is very valuable and crucial in the occurrence of disasters, even if the submarine cable is disconnected”, the system will still work using radio telecommunication network (satellite system).

An Early Warning Sound Alert transmission with a nationwide coverage was also installed through the project and will only take 8 minutes for the warnings to resonate.

He said based on their experience with Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunamis, Tongans are capable of evacuating to higher grounds when a tsunami occurs as long as there are advanced warnings.

“For that, NEWS project will be surely useful and effective.”

“I hope the NEWS project would become an epoch-making project for the people of Tonga. I believe this project will save the people and the Kingdom.”

 
Photo Credit: Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga

The Acting Prime Minister Hon Samiu Vaipulu noted that, Tonga is the second most at risk country in the world to natural disasters.

He said challenges such as the increasing of ocean and land temperatures, sea level rise, extreme weather, natural disasters and climate change, impact the country’s social and economic development.

“The Tongan Government requested assistance from the Government of Japan to improve the speed and stability of information transmission and to establish a wireless communication system in the event of a disaster.”

 
Photo Credit: Embassy of Japan in the Kingdom of Tonga

“The Japanese Government towards the end of 2016 responded positively to the proposal, and the design of the project started.”

Hon Vaipulu thanked the Government and People for their continued assistance in times of need which will save the people of Tonga from the adverse impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

NEWS Project was implemented through MEIDECC’s Communications Department.

Princess Royal HRH, Salote Pilolevu Tuita, Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho, Lord Tuita and Nobles of the Realm, Members of the diplomatic corps, government officials and guests were present in the occasion.

ENDS

Issued by the: Department of Communications (MEIDECC)

Mr. John Dovale (right) handed over two drones to Acting Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Kiuta Vaipulu.

26^th September 2022 – Acting Prime Minister and Acting Minister for MEIDECC, today open a 5-day training on how to operate an unmanned aircraft system or it’s known as drones, coordinated, and funded by the United Nation agency Emergency Telecommunication Cluster of World Food Programme.

CEO for MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Pouvalu Maú delivered the opening speech highlighting the significance of this certificating training for the first time in the country as a result the participants will be issued with a Drone Pilot License from the Civil Aviation Authority NZ and Flight Test NZ.

Mr. Maú also stressed the significance of this training to the Ministry in times of post disaster assessment by the magnitude of qualified drone operators where he invited key ministries to attend including NEMO, Geology, and Communications.

UAS Drone Instructure and a participant on day-1 practical test flight.

ETC Pacific Coordinator, Mr. John Dovale provide the remarks by adding – “This high pace 5-day training will cover a series of theory curriculums and practical each day to make sure by the end of the training these participants are fully equipped with how to assemble the drone, preflight check, basic flight techniques, and also the principle and rules of flying a drone at any sort of events, especially post disaster assessment”.

To receive a Drone Pilot License, the participants will take a 3 hour online and practical exam.

ENDS.

Issued by the Department of Communications.

23rd September, 2022 On behalf of the Government of Tonga, the CEO for MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Ma’u and on behalf of the Chief Consultant for the Joint Venture of Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd., Japan Telecommunications Engineering and Consulting Service and Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd, Ms. Keiko Uchimi signed the Second Amendment of Agreement regarding the consulting services for the Introduction of the Nationwide Early Warning System and Strengthening Disaster Communications Project yesterday at MEIDECC Office.

Mr Ma’u also signed the Eighth Amendment of Contract for the project with the Director for the Consortium of NBK Corporation and Dai Nippon Construction of Japan, Mr. Masakazu Dazai.

Mr. Ma’u expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government and People of Japan for their ongoing support and assistance to strengthen Tonga’s early warning system and disaster communications.

Mr. Masakazu Dazai presented gifts of sake bottles and gift bags to the MEIDECC’s CEO as a kind gesture and appreciation for the continuing collaboration.

ENDS

Issued by the: Department of Communications (MEIDECC)