Kerema District has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) to establish a District Community Development Centre (DCDC).
The agreement was signed in Port Moresby yesterday by Kerema MP and Minister for Finance, Thomas Opa, Minister for Youth, Religion and Community Development, Hon. Jason Peter, and DFCDR Secretary Mr Jerry Ubase.
Minister Jason Peter congratulated the Kerema District Development Authority for committing to the project.
“This agreement is an important step towards strengthening community development services at the district level.
“We signed MoAs with a number of districts last year, and this year Kerema becomes the second district after Kerowagi to come on board,” he said.
The DCDC project is estimated to cost K2 million and will be jointly funded by the department and the district, with each contributing 50 percent of the total cost.
Minister Peter said the main purpose of the DCDC is to ensure the department’s protection and empowerment programs are delivered effectively at the community level so that no one is left behind.
Minister Opa thanked the department for focusing on services that directly benefit vulnerable people at the community level.
“I consider this a very important infrastructure project for Kerema District.
“On behalf of our people and the Kerema DDA team, we are not only here to sign the MoA, but we want to see this project fully implemented,” he said.
Witnessing the signing were Acting Director for the National Office of Child and Family Services Mr Jerry Wap, the Kerema DDA team, and senior managers from the department.