SECRETARY for Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLGA), Philip Leo, has clarified that Annual Reports in Section 119 of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments (OLPGLLG) and Section 32 of the Public Service Management Act are two different legal requirements.
Secretary Leo clarified this while receiving Hela Province’s 2025 Annual Provincial Performance Report (APPR) on Monday (27/07/26) in Port Moresby.
“There appears to be some misunderstanding regarding these reporting requirements,” Mr. Leo said.
He further explained the difference between the two reports.
“Section 119 requires provincial governments to submit their APPRs to DPLGA, the report explains how public funds are used on service delivery sectors. It is then complied and
presented to the Minister for Provincial and Local-level Government Affairs for tabling in the National Parliament.
“Section 32 requires all Heads of Department and Government Agencies, including Provincial Administrators, to submit their annual performance reports on the achievement of their organizations’ planned objectives. These reports are also contractual obligations contained in the employment contracts (Performance Based Contracts) of Departmental Heads and Agency Heads,” Mr. Leo said.
Secretary Leo noted that the reporting requirement recently highlighted by the Prime Minister is separate and distinct. It relates to Section 32 of the Public Services (Management) Act and not the OLPGLLG’s APPR.
“Provincial Administrators, therefore have two separate reporting responsibilities.
Firstly, they coordinate and prepare the Province’s Section 119 Report on behalf of the Provincial Government as required under the Organic Law. Secondly, as Heads of Provincial Administrations appointed under the Public Services (Management) Act, they are individually required to submit annual performance reports in accordance with Section 32 of the Act and the terms of their employment contracts,” Mr. Leo said.
Mr. Leo commended the Hela Provincial Government for its commitment to meeting its statutory obligations and
encouraged all Provincial Governments to submit their Section 119 Reports within the prescribed timeframes while also ensuring full compliance with the Government’s broader performance reporting requirements.
“The Government’s objective is straightforward—strengthening accountability, improving governance and delivering better services to the people of Papua New Guinea. Both reporting frameworks are essential, but they serve different legal and administrative purposes and should not be confused,” Mr. Leo concluded. So far, only eight provinces have submitted their Section 119 Reports (2025 APPR).