ESP passes K103mil budget

By GABRIEL FITO
The East Sepik assembly passed the 2012 provincial budget of more than K103 million on Monday.
Governor Peter Wararu tabled the money plan valued at K103,950,500 at the provincial assembly to the delight of the assembly members, the provincial administrator and people in the public gallery even though it represents a fall of K14.6 million or 14% from 2011 budget allocation of K118.5 million.
Total provincial revenue estimates represent K94,624,100 in national government grants and an estimated K9,326,400 in internal revenue.
Wararu who is provincial chairman for finance and planning, acknowledged the government, especially Finance and Treasury Minister Don Polye, for giving East Sepik the second highest budget allocation to provinces this year.
The recurrent budget stands at K92,874,100 and represents public service manpower salaries and ongoing recurrent activities and the provincial, district and LLG administration.
The development budget of K1,750,000 represents the district support grants for all the seven national Members of Parliament.
This development component did not receive any allocation from the national government as it only represented the district support grants component of K250,000 each for the seven national MPs.
Wararu told members of the assembly the budget was aligned with the East Sepik integrated development plan 2011-15 targeting the 26 LLGs where actual implementation of the budget would take place.
He said the highlight of the budget “is the attempt and getting out of the budget from the provincial headquarters in Wewak to the doorsteps of the people in the LLG and ward levels”.
The province is working towards a medium-term plan for the province based on
the national government’s strategic development plan 2010-30 and the Vision 2050 plans.
The budget is expected to be presented to Polye for deliberation next week.