By GABRIEL KATUHO
Imbonggu District in Southern Highlands Province has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Community Development and Religion and PNG Civil and Identity Registry to roll out the NID project.
In the recent signing in Port Moresby, Imbonggu District Chief Executive officer (CEO) Joseph Timothy, Deputy Secretary to Community Development and Religion Jenny Kila and Acting Registrar General of the PNG Civil and Identity Registry, Salome Bogosia, affirmed their partnership to roll out the program in the district.
Mr Timothy expressed his gratitude to the two departments and described the signing as a Christmas gift for the people of Imbonggu.
He said NID was very important, especially when applying for jobs, and the Grade 12 and Grade 10 school leavers in Imbongu needed this service.
Mr Timothy thanked the department of Community Development and Civil and Identity registry for the partnership ensuring that this much needed government service with not only benefit the people of Imbongu but also the neighbouring provinces.
“According to the vision 2050, and the district’s plan 2023-2027, and MTDP4, we have a plan that we will work with all the partners. That is Imbonggu’s plan. We are still asking for all the government partners to come to Imbongu district. We have most of the government agencies already in Imbongu district,” he stated.
Mr Timothy said decentralizing all the authorities from Waigani to the respective districts was the government ‘s vision captured in Vision 2050, making it easy for the people to remain in their provinces and access basic government services.
He added that with the full support of Minister for Justice and MP for Imbonggu Pila Niningi, the program looked promising.
Ms Kila acknowledged the partnership as she outlined department’s corporate plan 2023-2027 to going rural comes in handy.
She said the department facilitated and made policies at the national level and the provinces were there to assist. However, the programs and the policies needed to be implemented at the community level.
“We have this barrier for a very long time. The policies that are developed at the national level where it makes us stagnant. It is very hard to get to the district. So, all the departments came up with the DCDC concept where it is working,” she said.
Ms Bogosia acknowledged Imbongu CEO Timothy and DCDR for signing the MoU.
She also commended Mr Tomothy’s tireless effort in driving change and development for the benefit for the Imbonggu people.
Ms Bogosia also thanked the political leadership of Mr Niningi and DCDR Secretary Jerry Ubase for a collaborative approach to delivering much-needed services to the people.
“Civil Registry as an agency is the one driving the National ID program that focus on the birth’s registration from ages 0-18 years old as well as mostly focused on the adult population that covered under the national ID program.
She added that the biggest challenge in terms of operations in the districts was getting the support from the District Development Authorities (DDAs).
With CIR operational in 17 provinces, the registry was moving into districts such as Pomio, Bogia, Yangoru-Sausia and Unggai- Bena
“CIR will be working closely with the department of community development and religion and Imbongu district to ensure an effective NID drive is conducted in the district,” Ms Bogosia said.