NBC BOOSTED IN MANUS BUDGET

By: Carol Umbo/NBC

NBC Manus has received a historic budgetary allocation of 1 point 4 million kina from Manus provincial government in its 2013 budget.

The money will go towards rebuilding the local radio's administration complex and the rollout of its FM coverage throughout the province including Kundu TV.

Manus governor Charlie Benjamin when handing down the province's 85 million kina budget last week notes that NBC Manus is in dire need of assistance to build its administrative block and improve its transmission performance.

NBC Manus Management, happy with this announcement thanked Governor Benjamin for his foresight in seeing the importance of the local radio in communication.

The management notes, this is the first time a substantial amount of money in the budget was given to the local radio, and assures the people of Manus that their radio will deliver.

Governor Benjamin last Friday handed down the Province's record annual budget for the 2013 fiscal year of 85-million-Kina.

The money plan is geared towards rural development, largely influenced by the national government's 2013 budget priorities.

The 85-million-946-thousand-900-Kina comprises of both national government's grant component of 80-point-2-million-Kina and 5-point-6-million-Kina from the internal revenue.

Mr. Benjamin notes, the budget will be guided by the Manus Integrated Development Plan of 2011 t0 2015, and aligned with the National Government's Development priorities in its Medium Term Development Plan.

The Governor says the directives are to propel the province forward to achieving its 2030 Vision, among which is to improve the human index indicator ranking of 50 by 2030.