15 districts have received their Log Export Development Levy (LEDL) funds paid out by the PNG Forestry Authority.
These funds are paid to districts where logging operations currently take place.
Kandrian Glouster received the highest of K10 million.
Forest Minister Douglas Tomuriesa says this is the first time in over 15 years that districts are going to benefit from the payout of levies.
“And rightfully so that the districts are to benefit from logging activities on their own land. In the past this was never done,” he says.
The levies were collected for this year and held in a trust account under the Treasury Department.
Before the funds were paid out Open Members and their respective District Development Authority were required to present a plan for what developments the funds would be spent on.
These plans were then presented to a committee comprising the managing director of the PNG Forest Authority, the Finance Secretary and the Secretary for National Planning.
Once the plans are approved payments are then remitted to the district accounts.
Tomuriesa says the funds can only be spent on infrastructure development and not on anything else.
He says once more levies are collected they will be paid out via the same process.
He is calling on Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others to seek clarification from PNG FA on processes for such funds.