Provincial, District and newly introduced Ward Service Improvement Program will be fully funded in the 2018 Budget.
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, Charles Abel stressed, that direct funding to Provinces, Districts and wards will see more vital projects implemented.
The Provincial Sector will receive K3.9 billion; this is 26.7 % of the total 2018 budget, the largest share of the budget of all sectors. Major appropriations include PSIP k220 million, DSIP K890 million and Ward SIP K64.4.
But the question of accountability of previous years funding for PSIP and DSIP were brought up and whether or not DSIP through the DDA were effective on a district level.
Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngagan, said that the new Integrated Financial Management System which will be running next year, will be able to allow the finance department to monitor PSIP, DSIP and WSIP.
Meanwhile, Treasurer Abel was adamant that DSIP funding was getting to the people on the ground and not being wasted in Waigani.
