Workshop addresses govt’s improvement programmes

 A REGIONAL workshop in Lae yesterday discussed the government’s services improvement programme funding for provinces, districts and local level government.

The National Economic and Fiscal Commission’s second regional workshop enabled the Mamose provinces of Morobe, Madang, East Sepik and West Sepik to reflect on their service delivery funding for health, education and transport infrastructure maintenance.

Chief Secretary and acting finance secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, who officiated at the workshop, pointed out that in the past, there was unfair distribution of funding from the national government which was distributed on the basis of kina per head.

This failed to take into account the huge difference in the cost of delivering services as all provinces were different with different capacities.

He said the new system brokered in 2009 saw grants calculated on the basis of need where provincial governments received funds depending on the cost of delivering services in their districts.

“Five years later, I am happy to say that the changes have been enormous. I understand on current projections, all provincial governments will have at least 90% of the funding they need, this is a massive change,” Zurenuoc said.

NEFC chairman Hohora Suve said: “The workshop is reviewing the government spending system and their issues that provinces have picked up and have done pretty well in monitoring.

“Bringing them all together is also a way for them to see how each are doing and  learn from the better performers.”

“Political leaderships are always important they always support what is happening with the administration, in order to have a good administration we have to have a political leadership with vision both in the development agenda set out clear in the five year development plan.”

The NEFC’s Islands regional workshop will be held at the end of June followed by the Highlands workshop in early July.