Western Highlands, like other provinces, did not receive its full Provincial Support Grants and the Services Improvement Program Grants for 2017.
But that has not dampened their spirits.
The provincial administration team is working with the little provided by the Government to empower the people to take charge of their own welfare.
The Governor for Western Highlands Province, Paias Wingti, and the Western Highlands Provincial Administration team recently presented the 2017 Services Improvement Program and the Provincial Support Grants acquittals to the Department of Rural Development and Implementation.
Unlike other provinces, Western Highlands has been consistent with the provision of its acquittals to DIRD annually.
This was commended early this week by DIRD Acting Secretary Steven Rambe.
From the reports, Western Highlands Provincial Government had anticipated an allocation of K20 million from the National Government in the 2017 fiscal year based on the four districts (estimated K5 million each).
A further K500,000 was supposed to be paid as Provincial Support Grants but due to 2017 cash flow problems, as highlighted in the acquittals, the province’s funding was cut by 88 percent.
The 2017 acquittals presented were based on only K2 million that was received as Services Improvement Program funds.
According to the summary provided by the acting provincial administrator, the insufficient funding made it difficult to complete most of the infrastructure projects.
But that has not dampened their spirits, encouraging Western Highlanders to be self-reliant and not depend so much on the Government as the economy continues to struggle.