Western sets up revenue strategies

 Western has put in place revenue generation strategies which will make future budgets healthier to effectively address issues like the current drought situation. 

Acting provincial administrator Modowa Gumoi said under the leadership of Governor Ati Wobiro, they had come up with investment strategies to boost their internal revenues.

“This is something he (Wobiro) announced during the 2016 budget presentation,” Gumoi said.

“We’ve put in place revenue generation strategies which will make our future budgets much healthier to address issues in the future.

“The province’s major investments include the Star Mountain Hotel project in Port Moresby, a hotel in Fiji, interests in PNG Air, Pacific International Hospital and a joint venture with an international company.   

“These are ways we are going to make money for the province based on the investments.”

Gumoi said when the revenue generation was realised, the province could easily deal with issues like the current drought situation.

“I am confident that in future once all those investment strategies materialise, we should have healthier budget and enough money to respond to such situations,” Gumoi said.

“In the past, the province depended highly on OK Tedi Mining Ltd and when it shut because of the drought, we did not have the money.”

Gumoi said they had learnt from the current drought situation and the people were suffering because of insufficient funds to respond.

“We will be well-prepared the next time around,” he said.

“We’ve now got the strategies in place which will form the template for such situations in future.”

“From now on we will be putting aside funds from the provincial budgets so we have a fall back plan in terms of finance.”