Vegogo awaiting release of funds

 By HELEN TARAWA 

The Northern provincial administration is waiting for the Treasury Department to release its funds, administrator Sem Vegogo says.

Vegogo told The National that the provincial accounts opened last week and they have yet to receive their warrants from the department.

He said a K100 million recurrent budget for the province was approved in January and all processes were completed last month.

“It’s a slow start for us here in the province and we are awaiting the warrants to be issued so Treasury can release our funds,” he said.

“We are taking one day at a time and hoping that no major issues affect the province while we wait for our funding.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that the funds would be released soon.” He said the main expenditure would be on health, education, agriculture and infrastructure.

Vegogo said the development budget was being implemented through the normal process of the District Support Improvement Programme and the Provincial Support Improvement Programme.

Meanwhile, discussions are underway between the  provincial government and Water PNG for the long-term development of water supply for Popondetta town.

The water supply was disrupted last month when the dam was damaged by flooding, resulting in the loss of two water pumps. 

Vegogo said it is not the first time that Popondetta water supply had been disrupted by the dam bursting in the past.