A Member of Parliament has expressed reservations about the idea of amalgamating the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) and the Department of National Planning & Monitoring.
The announcement of planned mergers of agencies of government is a cost-cutting measure to curb government spending for the 2017 fiscal year. This was announced during the debate on the 2017 budget handed down last Tuesday by Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch.
Minister for Civil Aviation, Davis Steven, says while the public service bill continues to impose a real challenge, cost cutting by merging two important departments (DIRD & DPNM) may be counter-productive and should not be permitted without broad discussion.
DIRD is currently responsible for facilitating and coordinating all services improvement programs (Provincial SIP, District SIP, LLGSIP).
Davis says the 2017 budget introduces the Ward Services Improvement Program (WSIP) which directs attention at the micro level. This important policy intervention is making impact throughout the nation; that is to say, rural communities where the majority of our people live.
“As government and all commentators now say, the success of the SIPs must now be assured and enhanced by putting in place robust systems and structures working at the districts, LLGs and now wards.
“That points to a dedicated department like DIRD, which now has the knowledge base and capacity to further refine its structures to ensure regional development.”
The Minister says this is the trend elsewhere in the region, where rural or regional development and infrastructure is the sole function of a dedicated department.
“Too much is at stake in our nation when one looks at the amount of public monies now being directed to the lower governments and the accompanying expectations for change where it matters.
“We should review the current role and activities of the Department of National Planning and Monitoring. Maybe a streamlined planning office should be reverted to the office of the Prime Minister, our chief planner or vision carrier of government.
“We must not allow Planning and Monitoring to be a super department at all levels. It is good for the country if DNPM should focus on micro level (higher policy level and planning for the future of the country), not financing and implementing programs and projects in all sectors, as the anticipated merger is now going to create.”
Davis states cost-cutting should not create confusion and weaken systems.
He stressed this while presenting his 2015 DSIP acquittal reports for Esa’ala district, Milne Bay Province, to DIRD this week.
(The Department of Implementation and Rural Development is currently responsible for facilitating and coordinating all services improvement programs.)