K310mil budget passed

THE Morobe provincial government received more than K300 million for its infrastructural developmental budget, the highest among provinces, deputy provincial administrator district services Patilias Gamato says.
He said Morobe received K130 million in the provincial recurrent budget and another K180 million for special projects, totalling K310 million this year.
The provincial government noted the significance in the budget increase from less than K6 million in previous years, he said.
The rural infrastructural development funding saw K2 million allocated to Pindiu Agro Technical College, Bulolo Technical College receiving K3.6 million, K2 million for Umi Technical Vocational Centre, K1 million for Mutzing health centre, Finschhafen footbridge K1.3 million, Bris Kanda local level economic development K2.49 million and Morobe Technical High School K4 million.
The member’s non-discretional component is K2 million while a special support grant for Hidden Valley gold mining was allocated K11 million.
Money allocated for major infrastructural improvement works in Lae city and districts will involve government agencies including the Works for Lae city roads K28.7 million, Kumalu by-pass road K14 million and Onga-Waffa road K2 million.
Lae ports received K46.370 million and K23 million for rubber tyre gantry cranes while another K10 million was parked for rural electrification and Water PNG for water supplies in Bulolo and Wau townships.
The Mineral Resource Authority will use K1.5 million for the Wafi-Golpu development and K1.5 million for Wau-Hidden Valley liaison.
“To use the budget accordingly requires honesty, transparency and accountability from provincial government and stakeholders to ensure the money achieved its desired aims, as planned,” Gamato said.