Platform is more accountable: MP

DEPARTMENT of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) has been commended for the direction taken to go rural with their recent Bilum Digital platform programme.
Pomio MP Elias Kapavore said unlike in the past, when DIRD allocated service improvement programme (SIP) funds to districts and provinces, and awaited acquittals from recipients annually, this time around the Bilum platform enabled proof of the projects through the funds.
“They (DIRD) stay in Waigani and look at their records to know that these SIP funds went to the districts and provinces and just wait for the acquittals, but they don’t know if these funds were actually spent on the stated projects or programme on the acquittal reports they received,” Kapavore said.
He said it was the first time a programme was in place to track funds and ensure evidence on the use of the government money.
He acknowledged the Australian government for support in this project.
He said all projects funded by SIP would be linked up from the local level governments to districts and the provincial levels through the Bilum Digital platform.
The DIRD team travelled to Pomio’s Palmalmal government station on MV Pomio on Sunday to give the password for the platform to the Pomio administration the first district in ENB to pilot the programme.