National ID drive gains support

 SOUTHERN and Western Highlands have pledged to take ownership of the PNG National Identity project.
This commitment was made last week in Mendi and Mount Hagen, with their respective provincial management staff who attended a week-long workshop on the roll out of the PNGNID.
The National Statistical Office as the implementing agency of the PNGNID, which facilitated the workshops, was impressed with the attendance and valued the participants’ open discussions and inputs to effectively register the population.
The PNG National Identity, when rolled out and established, will address the lack of a “secured, simple and trustworthy” method for citizen identification in the country.
Western Highlands provincial administrator Joseph Neng said the challenge was big but with accumulated knowledge acquired over the years through population censuses and surveys operations, the province was capable of helping roll out the project as directed by the Government.
Acting national statistician Roko Koloma said this was the first project of its kind had great benefits for the country and its future generations.
He said some of the benefits entailed in the PNGNID included guarding against identity theft, verification for employment, secure and financial transaction between business and individuals, travel and many other public and private sector applications.
In the coming weeks, NSO will progress its consultation visits to other provinces beginning with West New Britain, West Sepik and Milne Bay.