The National Executive Council yesterday approverdthe National Electronic Identification Card Project budget of K231.8 million. This isthe beginning of a process to getthe National Census right and eliminate election problems such as double voting.
The National Planning Department has already begunthe project which will take four years to complete.
The aim ofthe national electronic ID card system amongst thers is to addressthe lack of secure, simple and universal method for citizen identification.
The contract has been awarded to Huawei technologies and will be implemented in three phases beginning next month. The first phase will bethe preparation phase where provincial and district offices will be established. The second and third phases include data collection andthe updating ofthe e-id card system.
The data collection will involve registering every person inthe country, scanning of fingerprints and capturing a digital image ofthe person.
The government will do a direct funding of K70 million overthe four year period andthe balance of K162 million will be sourced as loan fromthe Chinese EXIM bank.
The government is investing a huge K232 million in this project to ensurethe 2017 General Elections are conducted properly.
Mr Abel called for greater support from provincial administrations duringthe implementation stage.
National Statistician Joseph Aka saysthe country needs this new system to correct inefficiencies inthe current database.
The government has already directedthe lands department to provide 800 square metres of land to buildthe Card Process Centre in Port Moresby.
There will be 111 fixed collection offices established acrossthe country to collect and supply information tothe main centre.
Ruth Rungula, National EMTV news
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