Provinces get K10mil

By ALISON ANIS
SECRETARY for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Manasupe Zurenuoc handed over K10 million to administrators from 12 provinces under the provincial performance improvement initiative (PPII) .
Zurenouc presented the cheques for K1 million and K500,000 to the provinces as support for the implementation of their corporate plans.
The government initiative is led by the Department of Provincial and LLG Affairs, National Planning and Monitoring and AusAID to improve public administration and integrity of planning, budgeting and performance management systems for better service delivery at provincial and district level.
Zurenuoc said the 12 provinces had been rewarded through the award of incentives for successfully drafting corporate plans as well as their performance in improving provincial management process.
“We have seen a signi­ficant improvement in provincial management since the implementation of the PPII five years ago,” he said.
Madang, West New Britain, Manus, Morobe, Chimbu, West Sepik and Milne Bay received incentive payments for last year while Central and East New Britain received this year’s funding.
Zurenuoc welcomed Enga, East Sepik and Northern as those that had recently joined the list, saying they would be receiving their K500,000 as soon as their provincial trust accounts were set up.
He said the programme involved a preparatory phase and most provinces were in this phase.
Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, Central, Milne Bay and West Sepik are on phase 2 and received K1 million.