THERE is an urgent need for real tangible development benefits flowing from Waigani to remote rural communities, Minister for National Planning and District Development Paul Tiensten said last week.
He said the Somare/Temu Government had demonstrated its commitment in the number of budget allocations so far.
Mr Tiensten said this when hosting a dinner for National Alliance Party delegates from New Guinea Islands region last Thursday evening and earlier at the NA convention that total allocation for rural projects for this year alone was K511.7 million.
He said the 2007 Supplementary Budget for the district service improvement programme was K356 million which was additional to the K155.7 million allocated in this year’s budget.
Mr Tiensten said the K356 million or K4 million per district allocated under the Supplementary Budget came from the windfall gained from strong growth in the economy.
“This growth was the result of your sweat, sacrifice and strong public sector performance,” he said.
He said the allocation of this money reflected the Government’s priority for real tangible development in the rural areas.