by Theckla Gunga – EM TV, Port Moresby
Wau-Bulolo MP Sam Basil has called on the government to quickly release the District Support Improvement Program Funds for his electorate.
Basil said, the delay is affecting the implementation of 2015 projects in Wau- Bulolo.
Currently, the state owes the district K18 million of DSIP funds.
From this K18 million, Basil said K3 million is outstanding from the 2014 DSIP Funds, while K15 million is for 2015.
He described being in the second quarter of the year now, and without the necessary allocated funds, his district is falling behind its implementation schedule.
“The first quarter of the year has gone, and we only have six months to deliver services because in the last quarter, everyone will be winding down to go for holidays”, Basil said.
The government has budgeted a sum of up to K1.3 billion, as the 2015 DSIP funds for all 89 districts in country. This is an increase of K445 million from the K890 million allocated for DSIP funds in 2014.
While the increase in the financial package comes as a relief for many under developed provinces, Basil has raised concerns on the value of PNG kina and whether the state will release the full DSIP Funds for all 89 districts.
“The kina value is dropping”, Basil said. Basil stressed that if the government is having liquidation issues, it should openly discuss it so adjustments can be made to save the PNG economy.
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