Church and State strengthen partnership in East New Britain

Friday, August 16th, 2013

The National Planning and Monitoring Department has given the archdiocese of Rabaul two used cars and some furniture.

Executive officer Tony Miva and administration officer Janet Walum made the donation on behalf of the acting secretary.

At the hand-over, the archdiocesan finance manager, Ray Ramirez, thanked the National Planning and Monitoring Department. He said the department had been a partner with the archdiocese of Rabaul for quite a long time now.

Mr Miva reiterated that the department has a partnership program in place between the church and the State.

He said the setting up of an office at the Vunapope was a part of this partnership carried out under the former secretary, Joseph Lelang.

It was in line with the current government’s interest in embarking on service delivery in partnership with private sector including non government organisations and churches.

“The office here was set up for that reason that we were able to build up the capacity with the planning division in the province under the provincial government and also to collect and collate the raw data from the province in terms of health and education. The updated data helps us to ensure that we meet what the province requires when we give assistance and funding.”

The Post Courier reports that the department’s regional officers from the Kokopo, Madang and Simbu were recalled back to Port Moresby after the current acting secretary said it was an expensive exercise.

“But from this paper’s observation in covering planning and development stories including observations in East New Britain technical planning and monitoring, expertise in the province has been stepping up,” the newspaper says.

“We were not able to confirm if other similar arrangements were made to close the other regional offices.

“At the moment, under the current O’Neill-Dion Government’s directives, the Office of Rural Development is expected to create regional offices and these offices are yet to be established.”

Source