THE people of Kerowagi District in Chimbu Province have witnessed a historic Sanapim-Pos (ground-breaking) ceremony for the construction of a new District Community Development Centre (DCDC).
The ceremony held on Tuesday, 29 September was in line with the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between the Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) and the Kerowagi District Development Authority (DDA) in July this year.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion, Hon. Jason Peter, thanked the Kerowagi DDA and the people of Kerowagi for their warm reception and acknowledged the leadership and commitment of their Member, Hon. Francis Kikin Siune, in supporting development initiatives for his people.
Minister Peter said Kerowagi was the first district in Chimbu Province to partner with the Department to establish a DCDC.
He said the two-storey facility would serve the people of Kerowagi, particularly marginalized and vulnerable groups, by bringing essential government and community development services closer to them.
“I am pleased with your Member and his DDA for partnering with my Department to have this building established here,” Minister Peter said.
He said the establishment of the DCDC was also aligned with the Government’s Medium Term Development Plan VI (MTDP VI) and Vision 2050, which emphasize bringing development and services closer to people at the district, ward and village levels.
“Through our national priority of Reset PNG: Going Rural, we are shifting development from urban centres to rural communities where most of our people live,” he said.
Minister Peter also called on the people of Kerowagi to work together and take ownership of their development initiatives to ensure the DCDC delivers lasting benefits.
Member for Kerowagi and Minister for Education, Hon. Francis Kikin Siune, expressed his appreciation for the partnership between DFCDR and the Kerowagi DDA, saying the DCDC would bring essential services closer to the people.
“This building will accommodate offices like the Civil Registry, Air Niugini and many other services. You will no longer need to travel to Kundiawa, Hagen or Goroka because these services will be here,” Minister Siune said.
The facility will also support programs targeting women, people living with disability, older persons and young people, providing a more accessible platform for inclusive community development in Kerowagi District.