by Delly Waigeno – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The El Nino situation in the country was a point of focus during question time in parliament this morning.
Nothern Province Governor, Gary Juffa, questioned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Leo Dion, on the role of his Ministry in developing relief supplies to the provinces.
In response, Mr Dion, said due to the lack of funding of the National Disaster Office, the government is looking at disseminating some of the powers to the provinces and to the District Administrations.
Governor Juffa asked the Deputy Prime Minister to explain his Ministry’s strategy in delivering relief supplies to drought affected areas.
Mr Dion said Governor Juffa’s question would also be best answered by respective Provincial governments and district administrations.
He said the Disaster Office has not received funds for many years and the government was looking at improving the Office’s operations, as well as decentralising some of the powers to the provinces and to the District Administration.
Finance Minister, James Marape, said when government framed the 2015 budget, no one anticipated a disaster of this magnitude.
The allocation of K25 million for disaster was used for the frost situation in the Highlands region and ongoing efforts.
He said government saw DSIP as the closest allocation in budget to the people and has allowed the use of up to K2million from DSIP to assist those affected.
The government is expected to make a statement tomorrow, with details on how it will address the disaster issues, especially the current drought situation.
The Finance Minister also announced an increased funding allocation for Disaster in the 2016 National Budget.
