Second trial on village registers starts

THE second trial for delivery of village record books or registers in the country is to begin next month in the Bulolo district, Morobe province.
National Statistics Office and team leader Josiah Joseph said the first trial had been carried out in the Buang local level government area of the same district.
Joseph said they were awaiting the release of funds from the Integrated Financial Management Systems (IFMS), which they would use to deliver the books to the remaining local level governments of Wau-Bulolo urban, Watut rural, Mumeng, Waria and Wau rural.
He said they would evaluate the information contained in the books and the responses collected from the people to see where possible adjustments could be made.
Joseph said from the two trials carried out, they would then select a province to pilot the project, which would then allow for the distribution of the books nationwide.
He said the lack of publicity and logistics were some of the major challenges encountered in the first trial.
He said most villagers were confused over the use of the books, thinking it was another census activity.
The delivery of village record books was endorsed by the NEC under Prime Minister Peter O’Neill last year.
The State approved a funding of K41 million for the National Statistics Office to implement the project.
The book will be used to collect basic information on government services, economic activities and population statistics in a particular ward.
The information will be used by planners, policy formulators and decision makers to make well informed decisions resulting in better policy formulation equal resource allocation and monitoring development progress.