BY SAMIE WAIKORI

The Provincial Planning Development Committee (PPDC) of Malaita has completed a one-day meeting in Auki, as preparation gears towards the provincial revised budget next month.

The meeting is to review the allocation of PCDF development projects mainly under the social and economic sectors of the province to be funded during this financial year.

The PPDC is chair by the Provincial Minister for Finance and Treasury, Hon Lemuel Kevianga and consisted of chairpersons from 33 wards in the province, MPG’s Heads of Divisions and reps from Non Government Organizations in Auki.

PPDC is the highest committee in the provincial government level task with allocation of projects to implement under the PCDF program.

“The purpose of the PPDC is to allocate development for the province.” Minister Kevianga highlighted. “They are the backbone of development in the province.

“Reason for that is we don’t want politicians to politicize our projects, so the PPDC is tasked with this work instead of MPAs.

“This is so that projects are equally share among 33 wards in Malaita province,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Kevianga also highlighted that during the meeting, allocation of projects has made for the $11.8 million PCDF funding support for the province.     

He added the projects are part of some of the projects that haven’t implemented under the 3-year rolling plan of the province.

Kevianga explained the 3-year rolling plan was approved by the PPDC, blessed by the assembly and they become priority projects to implement.

According to the minister, PPDC will compile a report on the meeting and will submit to the executive for deliberation, later the PAC and finally table on the floor of the assembly.

He said Malaita province expects an assembly meeting next month to pass the 2023/2024 revised budget, to allow for the implementation of its PCDF projects.