BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Makira Ulawa provincial government plans to implement a total of 26 projects in the province under its Provincial Capacity Development Fund (PCDF) program for 2024/2025 financial year.
The projects will implement through a funding SBD8.3 million awarded to the province following their recent requalification for the PCDF program.
Premier of Makira Ulawa province, Stanley Siapu made the statement highlighting the importance of cooperation among leaders and people of Makira Ulawa province to implement the projects
“We managed to pass the recent PCDF assessment and able to access around SBD8.3 million to implement 26 approved projects in the province.
“The fund was portioned, and 20 percent of it was allocated for administration of the province.
“This includes; renovation of provincial offices, residents and other government infrastructure within the provincial headquarter,” he said.
Siapu furthered that 80 percent of the fund will go toward the productive and social sectors in the province.
He said this includes; education, health, community development projects, women, youth, church projects and other infrastructure projects in the province.
Siapu however, shared the challenge they face in executing the fund prior to the end of the current financial year on March 31st, as provided for under PCDF manual.
He recalled the PCDF assessment was carried out in October 2024, and results were released in late December 2024.
Adding after then, the Makira Ulawa provincial assembly had its revised budget toward the end of January 2025.
“Seriously, we only have about two months to implement the 26 proposed projects.
“That’s our challenge, and we are working against time as much as possible to implement the projects within this short period of time.
“At the moment we are working on tendering the projects and we hope implementation of projects will begin prior to March 2025,” Siapu said.
The premier was concerned on the PCDF manual that if they don’t implement the projects prior to March 31st, 60 percent of the fund will return to the national government.
That will leave the province with 40 percent to roll over.
Considering the lateness of awarding the PCDF qualification status to MUP, it would be an advantage if the PCDF team under MPGIS to ponder the situation by Makira Ulawa provincial government, according to Siapu.
He said this is by wavering the clause under the PCDF manual to allow room for Makira Ulawa to implement the fund.
Regardless of that, Siapu said MUP is prepare to do its best to meet requirements under the funding program, knowing very well they just qualified for the program.
In the meantime, he said MUP is currently preparing for the next PCDF assessment that expect for next month.
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
