Delayed spending slows growth

 By SHIRLEY MAULUDU

THE accountability of public expenditure remains a major failure by concerned agencies, according to a senior Planning Department official.

Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM) acting Secretary Juliana Kubak, said the O’Neill Government had set up an investment platform with a five-year outlook to grow the economy. 

She said the implementation of high impact projects under the 2013 development budget had been slow.

“The delay in expenditure across the development budget and particularly high impact projects could be attributed to inefficient modalities to delivery including lengthy procurement processes and lack of proper scoping and designs of these projects to constructions,” Kubak told the PNG Budget Forum at the National Research Institute in Port Moresby last Thursday.

“Despite low trends in expenditure, we must acknowledge that some progress has been made to date in terms of awarding of contracts. 

“Actual construction and expenditure is expected to commence across the first stage of the Highlands Highway, Lae to Nadzab Road, Port Moresby City Roads, Lae city roads and Pacific Games in the next few months.”