By ORCHY REX
The Constitutional and Law Reform Commission (CLRC) has commenced a review of laws relating to the monitoring and evaluation of government-funded programs and projects in Papua New Guinea, with a focus on ensuring greater transparency, accountability, and effective use of public funds.
The review, conducted under Term of Reference No. 23, aims to examine existing legislation that governs the use and oversight of development grants, particularly those tied to the Service Improvement Program (SIP) and other government funding streams such as functional grants, provincial and district support grants, development grants, and staffing allocations.
CLRC Chairman Dr Mange Matui said the review was crucial in addressing widespread public concern over the misuse of public funds and weak enforcement mechanisms.
“This review is very important to combat corruption and make sure there is accountability in every public fund released by Treasury. Our people are crying out there,” Dr Matui said.
He added that after 50 years of independence, it was time for the country to ensure public funds were being used effectively and reaching the intended beneficiaries at the community level.
“In these particular terms of reference, we are asking whether the money is going straight to our people or being misused along the way,” he said.
Dr Matui highlighted that despite the government allocating substantial resources annually through the national budget, the actual impact of spending on the ground remains minimal due to poor monitoring systems and limited enforcement of existing laws.
He said the review would also assess the institutional arrangements and policy frameworks surrounding fund monitoring and evaluation to identify weaknesses and propose reforms that promote transparency, strengthen public trust, and improve service delivery.
“It is timely and critical that we look into how our monitoring systems function. When we don’t enforce the law, the law becomes meaningless. This review goes to the heart of accountability, transparency, and effective service delivery in our country,” Dr Matui stressed.