Fire Service to adjust plans for next year

THE PNG Fire Service has been allocated K18.6 million under the recurrent budget, an increase of K800,000 from this year’s appropriation.
“While this is an increase, it is K4 million short of the organisation’s submission,” chief fire officer Isaac Silas said.
“The Fire Service has an important role to play in the country’s rapidly growing building and construction industry, and in the community generally.
“We will do what we can within this budget to maintain the level of service we are delivering.”
He said the K5 million, under the development budget, was part of a K26 million allocation to PNGFS to be used over five years to improve facilities and equipment in the provinces and the National Capital District.
The total project cost was set at K40.8 million, to come from the development budget to maintain and upgrade the 14 fire stations nationwide as well as undergo a major early warning and dispatch project for the organisation.
“Our project management team will review the project and make adjustments within the approved project ceiling.
“We will be discussing this further with the Department of National Planning,” Silas said  
“This is the first time we have received support under the development budget.
“We will be upgrading our facilities to meet current and emerging needs of our communities.
“I want to thank the government, in particular the Department of National Planning, for recognising this need and making it possible for us to maintain and upgrade our facilities,” he said.