PIP to improve indicators: MP

THE Government’s public investment programme (PIP) is focused on improving Papua New Guinea’s social indicators, in particular, making more progress towards the medium-term development goals (MDG), National Planning Minister Paul Tiensten said.
“The 2010 PIP is people-centred and targeted to leverage growth in the non-mining sectors,
particularly rural areas,” Mr Tiensten, in his forward of the 2010 Budget, said.
The commitment by the Government, according to Mr Tiensten, is reflected in the large share accorded to development, which he described as “historical”.
The K3.4 million development budget has increased significantly, an increase of 24% from this year’s K2.5 billion.
This increase in funds that will go towards funding the PIPs, according to Mr Tiensten, will fuel the Government’s desire to improve PNG’s development, including both investments aimed improving social indicators and those aimed at increasing the economy.
In the 2010 development budget, the highest expenditure towards the PIP is in transport infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance at K900.8 million.
A number of major on going Government-funded projects continuing in the 2010 PIP include national bridges maintenance, national road maintenance, and coastal vessels programme.
The Government is also funding large investments in the transport sector through a combination of direct financing and concessional loans.
These included the new civil aviation sector development investment programme, the Lae Port development and three large road maintenance and rehabilitation projects in the Highlands.
The PIP covers a wide range of areas including the promotion of income earning opportunities (K524.2 million) and district services improvement programme (K178 million) and provincial services improvement programmes (K20 million).
Mr Tiensten assured that the Government, in its quest to deliver, will ensure accountability and transparency and try to improve public service mechanism to ensure effective delivery.