By Wasita Royal
East New Britain (ENB) is once again at the forefront of digital transformation in Papua New Guinea’s public sector, as the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) returns to the province to officially onboard the Bilum digital platform.
This marks a milestone, following the initial awareness campaign held in ENB in 2023. The five-day BILUM platform roll out began on Monday this week. This centralized online system, is designed to revolutionize how districts and provinces report and monitor the implementation of Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) and fundable projects.
Previously, annual reports were submitted in cumbersome document-based formats which often leads to delays and coordination challenges.
With Bilum, all information will now be centralized, making it easier for districts and provinces to track their development goals and their funding allocations in real time.
Deputy Secretary for Program Implementation and Rural Development, Gordon Wafimbi, accompanied by the DIRD team, stressed that ENB was chosen for this early rollout because the province is “Bilum ready.” “ENB has demonstrated exceptional organizational skills and readiness,” he said. “Two of their district teams submitted last year’s reports collectively and ahead of schedule, showing they are prepared to embrace this new digital approach.”
This platform covers all key sectors including education, health, infrastructure and will enable users to monitor, evaluate, and report on project progress. It will also ensure that local development efforts align with the national priorities, to provide government decision-makers with accurate, timely data to inform funding and policy adjustments.