Fifty percent of total allocation of the Provincial and District Services Improvement Program (PSIP & DSIP) funds will be paid out by the end of August.
Minister for Finance James Marape assured in Parliament today that 50 percent of the total allocation of K10 million to all districts and provinces will be paid.
Marape confirmed that the Government has so far paid K3 million each to all provinces and the 89 districts.
Marape was answering to question raised by Member for Kabwum Bob Dadae on whether the PSIP and DSIP funds will be released for the remainder of this year.
Marape said: “By the time we close this month we will make up to 50 percent of total allocation and the balance of this we will run it as we go through to the end of the year.
“For some districts who have not yet picked up the fund, the fund is available at the Finance Department.”
The DSIP and PSIP fund is a direct intervention program by way of government policy that is meant for the districts and for the provinces.
Marape clarified that this fund is an allocation for programs in the districts and provinces and comes from Government Policy based on Alotau Acord principles.
“This fund is not left to the discretion of members of parliament.
“It is tied especially to five key sectors that the Alotau Acord and the Government of O’Neill/Dion has placed as key corners of policies for the Government,” Marape said.
These are education, health, infrastructure, law and justice sector and economic sector interventions.