PNG Government challenged to release Grants on time

The presidents from all five LLGs in Angoram district have call on the government to release the services improvement program funds (SIP) on time to delivery basic goods and services to the people.

They claimed that late disbursement of local level government services improvement program (LLGSIP) funds released to the provincial treasury is another burden that halted service delivery in their LLGs.

“The government is talking about vital service delivery in the LLGs and districts in PNG, but late release of funds had been major obstacles and we could not deliver projects and programs on time and also submitting of acquittals reports for accessing next load of funding for development purpose,” the five presidents said.

The presidents are from Angoram LLG, Karawari LLG, Yuat LLG, Keram LLG and Marienberg LLG stressed this while presenting their 2013 LLGSIP plus DSIP acquittal reports to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) in Port Moresby today.

A full district delegation from Angoram electorate physically came and presents their 2013 financial reports which is a requirement under the Administrative Guidelines and Financial Instructions to ensure compliance and accountability.

“We have to report back to the government on what we have spent in terms of implementing projects and programs that can likely benefit the rural people,” local MP Sali Waipo said.

The presidents also urged the government to release the 2014 SIP funds straight into district treasury operating accounts, this is to avoid delay process in facilitating the funds for implementation.

“Our LLGs are geographically isolated; we have spent so much money on transport, basically to ferry building materials from one location to another, therefore we want the government to allocate SIP funds straight to district treasury so that we can easily access our funds there instead of diverting development grants to provincial treasury which takes a long time to process, we don’t want last year’s SIP funds to be brought forward to this year,” they stressed.

District administrator Aloi Agat said because of the late release of SIP funds all funds allocated in 2013 have been brought forward to this year.

Mr. Agat said Angoram district JDP/BPC have made a resolution and prioritised that law and order is of paramount importance, and are proposing to building 20 men police barracks with a total appropriation of K4.5 million.

“This is to eradicate escalating law and order situation in the district. Tangible development and investment attraction are so minimal with the law and order situation,” Mr. Agat said.

District administrator said they are also looking at improving capacity by maintaining and building classrooms, teachers’ houses, community health post, infrastructure development, intentions to establish cocoa production and continue to support these cash crops because it will assist the people to sustain and alleviate poverty.

The MP highlighted that under the 2013- 2017 District Development Plan, the district has opted to address deteriorating infrastructures, impassable roads, poor health and education services, inaccessible waterways, very high transportation cost, lack of magisterial and judicial services and others.

“These are some of the many issues affecting the development of the district over the last two decades, there are lot of projects to be done within the next couple of years,” Mr. Waipo said.

Some of the major impact projects that the Angoram District Development Plan will focus on involves the new 30 men police barracks, Angoram district rural electrification program project, purchasing of new vehicles, Angoram district water and sanitation project, Gaven Rubber rehabilitation project, construction of 15 new aid posts, Angoram district rural lock-up project, airstrips maintenance and up-grading, Angoram Bogia road project and small holder rice development projects.

Mr. Waipo said DSIP funds for 2013 and this year will be allocated to the above identified impact projects.

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