By ELIZABETH VUVU
THE East New Britain provincial administration, with the help of a special project unit, is in the process of designing and implementing a multi-programme to fit a K20 million disaster fund from the National Government.
The funding was given upon request by the administration after the volcanic eruptions last October.
Provincial administrator Akuila Tubal said this during a press conference last Friday to clarify the status of the funding which still had to be implemented on priority projects.
He was also clarifying claims that the money had been misused for other purposes.
He said the purpose of the funding was to help restore services since after the eruptions, not only to the Rabaul district but to the whole of the province.
“We are aware that the provincial government must report back to the National Government on problems faced and expenditures and that is why we have set up a special project unit to coordinate with all stakeholders and be accountable for the use of the funds,” Mr Tubal said.
He said it was taking a while for projects to be implemented as they were still negotiating and securing plantations from the Bainings and the Catholic Archdiocese to resettle people affected by the volcanic eruptions.
The delay was also attributed to the national election.
Half of the K20 million funding would be towards securing plantations and between K5 and K6 million would be spent on infrastructure.
He said the provincial administration could not burden the Gazelle Restoration Authority with implementing the projects as it had its own numerous projects to implement.
Mr Tubal urged for patience among the people as they finalised the implementation of the disaster priority projects in a sustainable manner that would meet the need for a larger effected population.