Government spends K4.89b on PSIP & DSIP

The Government has spent K4.89 billion in Provincial Support Improvement Programme (PSIP) and District Support Improvement Programme (DSIP) funds over the last four years.

Finance Minister, James Marape made the announcement today during the 2017 Leaders Summit in Port Moresby.

He said many of these funding has gone to more than 80 per cent of Papua New Guineans living in rural areas.

Despite the many criticisms against the O’Neil led government, Marape said no previous government has matched its commitments with budgetary allocations.

“Provincial governments and districts who take care of schools and district roads and provincial roads, health facilities, in the districts and provinces, but no Government up until our time has seriously put money to match those policy commitments and legal requirements.

Marape said some sector by sector appropriations over the last four years include:

  • Infrastructure (DSIP and PSIP)  - K1.68 billion
  • Education (DSIP) – K712 million
  • Health (DSIP) – K712 million
  • Law and Justice – K356 million
  • Econcomic Sector  - K356 million

He said total PSIP allocation is K1.33 billion to all provinces, and a total allocation, including DSIP of K4.89 billion.

Marape said, this is evident in districts such as Ungai-Bena and Tari, and Southern Highlands Province, which revealed positive performances over the last five years yesterday.

“As the National Government, we’ve clearly demarcated what the National Government responsibilities are, at the same time we’ve empowered government closest to where 85 per cent of the population are,: he said.

Marape highlighted the Governments reforms taking place to ensure value for money is derived in the transfer of money from central agencies to the Provinces’ and Districts.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole