K107 million given for National Census

THE National Government has allocated K107 million in its 2010 annual budget for the National Statistical Office (NSO) in Port Moresby to conduct a nationwide population and housing survey.
Deputy Prime Minister Sir Puka Temu announced this at the launch of the 2010 National Census at the Holiday Inn yesterday.
“The Government is mindful of the difficulties and the expensive task of conducting census in PNG and has demonstrated its support through the provision of the funds,” Sir Puka said.
He said the allocation included additional funding for 2011 and 2012 to ensure the successful completion of the census.
Sir Puka said conducting a census was important for any government and facts and figures were needed to plan data for the people.
He said with the Vision 2010-2050 in place to drive the national development programme for the next 40 years, the Government needed updated statistical information for reviewing and updating implementation strategies.
“Data needs to be updated for proper planning and in fulfilling the Government’s long and short-term development strategies,” he said.
Acting national statistician Joseph Aka said the NSO was grateful for the support and assured the Government that the census would be conducted from July.
“We have finalised the 2010 census document for the National Executive Council (NEC)’s endorsement after consultations with the Department of National Planning.
“ PNG is one of the most difficult countries in the world to undertake a census due to many reasons, including terrain, scattered villages and islands, poor infrastructure and illiteracy,” he added.
Three national censuses have been conducted at 10-year intervals in 1980, 1990 and 2000 since independence.
Mr Aka said the basic demographic information on age, date of birth, sex, marital status, education and other additional data on economic activities and households would be collected as well as migration.