Western province launches 5-year plan

The Western provincial government launched its five-year integrated development plan together with its four districts in Daru last Friday.

The WPID 2023-2027 is aligned to the National Governments Medium Term Development [MTDP] IV for 2023-2027.

The plans were officially launched by the Acting Prime Minister and Member for Teleformin Solan Mirism and Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea Sir Gibbs Salika.

Western province Governor Taboi Awi Yoto in his opening remarks during the launch expressed gratitude towards the members of the Provincial Executive Council, Provincial Administrator Robert Alphonse Kaiyun and his team, the District Administrators along with their District Development Authority board members, and all local level government managers for their significant contributions to the district plans.

Governor Yoto emphasized that the plan is not ambitious but is a simple plan based on reality and is not deviated from the previous plan [2018-2022] but, it’s a commitment to continue from that plan.

Governor Yoto further stated that for the past thirty to fourty years Western Province has been operating on an ad hoc basis in which the province started off well but lost focus along the way until,in 2018 a plan was put togather.

“In 2018, we decided to put a forum together, put a team together and put a plan togather, it was a simple plan, and the vision at the time was simple. We wanted to see our people educated, healthy with food on the table and money in the pocket,” he said.

Governor Yoto is urging all development partners to unite under a single plan and collaborate towards achieving a shared vision.

MP for Teleformin Solan Mirisim was privileged to be part of the launching stating Western province is the first province with its districts to launch the five year development plan.

He said Western province is a challenging province to deliver goods and services, but that did not stop the Western province leaders and its partners from delivering what they can and what they have.

Present during the launch were Minister for Mining and MP for Jimi, Wake Goi, Minister for Energy and Kerema MP Thomas Opa, Minister for Defence and Nipa Kutubu MP Dr Billy Joseph, Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea Sir Gibbs Salika, Australian High Commissioner, his excellency John Feakes, OTML CEO Kedi IIimbit, PNG Sustainable Development Program [SDP] CEO Lesieli Taviri and departmental heads from Port Moresby.