BY LYNETTE KIL
THE government flagship pregame, the Connect PNG program is decentralized to the provinces and districts for effective government business and services to take place.
Minister for Works and Highways, Solan Mirisim made this announcement on Friday during a press conference which also saw Eastern Highlands province taking the lead in the program.
“The program is a requirement by Road Fund and Management Act 202,0 to ensure all sub-national road networks provinces are properly managed, where value for money is obtained.
“These Agreements demonstrates the national governments commitment to decentralizing powers to the provincial and districts development authorities, in line with the PNG constitution and the government decentralization policy.
“Road management performance agreement is closely aligned to the government broader economic development strategies and Connect PNG targets so that we mal y all benefit, “said Mirisim.
He said under the agreement the financial, policy and technical support from the department will be given when provinces and districts meet the following requirements which includes;
Adhere to government road policy issued by the Minister for works and highways under the Act
Adhere to national government 5-year road-development targets and goals
Adherer to the department standards and social safeguard policies
Meet key road sector performance objectives and provide regular reports, through the provincial works, managers to DOWH for monitoring and evaluation process
submit annual works plans to DOWH for assessment before submitting them to the department of National Planning and monitoring for funding.
He added that this arrangement tis critically important because, national government focus on national road network, provincial and districts will partner in developing their own road networks, and in turn will connect to the national road network.
“It is not the role of the national government to direct provincial and district what to do within there respective areas but to work in partnership
“I would like to appeal to all members of parliament to sign this agreement to benefit from this in terms of service delivery t the people,” said Mirisim.
