NID PROJECT LAUNCHES WEBSITE

January 22, 2020 - On Tuesday, Minister Basil with PNG CIR / NID Project acting registrar general Mr Noel Mobiha launched the PNG CIR / NID Project internet website, witnessed by DNPM Secretary Mr Koney Samuel and NSO acting National Statistician and their respective officials.

This was followed by presentations from policy wing and the foreign aid division. Mr Basil said that the record of the meeting will be used to map out a way ahead schedule and action plan for the year so all entities and the different sectors in DNPM can be better served in 2020.

Commenting on 2019, the Minister said that 2019 was a challenging year as he had assumed the Ministry in the fourth quarter when the 2019 National Budget was in trouble.

“The focus was therefore on the 2019 Supplementary Budget followed by the 2020 National Budget. What that demanding trouble-shooting exercise meant was that it was difficult to concentrate on the multi-sectoral role of DNPM and give due attention to the NSO on the National Census as well as the PNG CIR / NID Project,” he said.

“That’s why I called for the meeting – away from Port Moresby - to avoid distraction from routine and other pressing demands to concentrate and discuss the way ahead in 2020.”

Mr Basil said that 2020 is going to be a challenging year as the DNPM is going to roll-out the wards intervention funding of K65 million; the NSO is going to drive the 2020 National Budget with K100 million less than half of their funding estimate and five months behind schedule; and the NID Project will need to expedite tertiary students registrations as they need NID Cards to apply for the higher education loans program (HELP) as well as public servants registrations – a requirement to be on the public service payroll.

“The two-day Way Ahead 2020 meeting has given me an appreciation of the issues and challenges. I have in turn directed the different entities to prepare NEC Information Papers which I will bring to the NEC as soon as they are ready,” he said.