Hela presents K491mil budget to government

THE Hela government presented its 2019 budget of K491 million to Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel in Port Moresby on Friday.
Governor Philip Undialu said the budget was a revision of last year’s because the 2018 budget was unable to be implemented successfully due to disruption caused by the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on Feb 26.
“Thus, our 2019 budget is a revision of the 2018 budget with the theme Rebuilding Aftermath,” he said.
“We are focusing on rebuilding our province after the earthquake last year and our priorities still remain on addressing law and order, improving road infrastructures, education, health and the economic sector, particularly in the renewable sector of the economy.”
Undialu said the national government failed to release funds that were announced for disaster to rebuild the disaster affected province and urged them to ensure these funds were released this year so they can implement some of their programmes as outlined in their 2019 budget.
Abel commended Undialu and the provincial administration team for submitting their 2019 budget as required under the law for Treasury to approve.
“While I commend you and your team for submitting your 2019 budget, I also would like to commend you for focusing on developing the sustainable sectors of the economy in the province,” he told Undialu.
“Though Hela is a resource-rich province in terms of the extractive sector, the governor is supporting and investing in the sustainable sectors like agriculture and that is very good and commendable.”
Undialu, accompanied by Hela administrator William Bando and Komo-Margarima MP Manase Makiba along with other staff of provincial administration, handed over the budget to Abel.