The PNG Times

23/11/2025

19/11/2025

: CLARIFICATION ON FUNDING TRANSFERS TO PROVINCIAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES (PHAs) AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES

The National Government wishes to correct misleading claims currently circulating suggesting that the Government has failed to transfer funds appropriated to the Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs) throughout the country. These statements are incorrect, and they do not reflect the actual funding status for 2025.

To date, the National Government has continued to honor its obligations as per budgetary appropriations to support the operations of all PHAs across the country. This is despite the fiscal pressures and competing national priorities.

For the 2025 Fiscal Year, the National Government appropriated a total of K569.3 million to all Provincial Health Authorities combined. This funding supports core frontline services, including hospital operations, rural health facilities, healthcare workers’ salaries for those not in government alesco payroll, maintenance, and essential health programs.

As of today, a total of K424.4 million in warrants has been issued by the Department of Treasury and the Department of Finance have subsequently remitted these funds to PHAs year-to-date in 2025.
Just this week, the Department of Treasury released an additional warrant of K78 million and the Department of Finanace has electronically transferred these to all PHAs across the country.

This means 74.1% of the total appropriated funding has already been released, within the normal expenditure timeline for the fiscal year. The remaining balance is fully budgeted for and will be released in line with the Government’s cash-flow schedule.

The Marape-Rosso Government is confident that 95% to 100% of the 2025 PHA appropriation will be fully discharged before 31 December 2025.

Additionally, to support the distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies, the National Government has also released K170 million year-to-date in 2025. This funding ensured continuous procurement and delivery of Essential drugs, Vaccines, Medical consumables, Emergency supplies for hospitals and rural health centres.

These investments demonstrate the Government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening and improving health services nationwide.

The National Government recognises the essential role PHAs play in delivering healthcare to our people and is fully committed to ensuring they are adequately funded and operational.

The Marape-Rosso Government remains committed to improving the health system, supporting frontline workers, and ensuring that resources reach every PHAs as appropriated.

Hon Thomas Opa
Minister for Finance

17/11/2025

: K2 BILLION IN MORE FAKE STORIES FROM O’NEILL.

“PNG has not received K2 billion in the last two weeks from dividends and loans as claimed by O’Neill. This is just fake news. The spin-master back to old form. How can we ever trust him?

“There is no agreement for a K600 million from one of the local banks.It is part of the financing plan for the 2026 Budget subject to approval.Definitely no cash received. We did sign budget support assistance from the ADB last week, all part of our 2025 financing plan and all part of our credible repayment plan but this then goes back to the ADB Board for consideration, and no cash for at least a month. We have asked the Kumuls to pay an extra billion, all part of what they owe the state including 3,299 from KPHL, but they haven’t.

“A claimed K2 billion to the Government, but in fact, nothing received in the last few weeks.Another blatant lie.

“The O’Neill emotional manipulation is then saying we should use this non-existent K2 billion to pay for medicines. Inventing fake stories we have lots of cash, when the reality is we don’t.

“The MYEFO made clear we were facing cash shortfalls of K1,457 million in 2025. The Government is hiding nothing. Unlike the strong revenues in 2022 and 2023, cash coming to the government in 2024 and 2025 is not as high as expected. We are working to live within our means so we can stop building up extra debts as we get back to a surplus in 2027.

“The shortage of medicines and other medical supplies is a major problem. The impacts on our rural health facilities and hospitals is causing real pain for our people. As explained by the Minister for Health, the solutions are more complex than just cash. As highlighted in the media this morning, hospital staff say the drugs are available, but a large part of the problem is to do with the logistics of delivering the correct medicines to the correct hospitals and health centers on time. More staff are also being employed, and the new University of Medicine and Health Sciences will help train more staff.

“There is no extra K2 billion in cash. recieved in the past weeks as claimed by Oneill. Just another lie. Revenues are down, as we advised in our MYEFO released three months ago.Getting medicines out is a major priority area of action – the solution is not just a simple matter of cash. Our media should check the facts prior to publishing such fake stories. We expect more fake stories for O’Neill. The media should not trust him, PNG should not trust him.

Hon. Ian Ling-Stuckey, CMG. MP
Minister for Treasury
17 November 2025

17/11/2025

: Marape Borrows Another K1 Billion as Hospitals Run Out of Medicines

Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 | PNG Online News

FORMER Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill in a statement today has criticised the Marape Government’s latest round of borrowing, saying the administration has secured another K1 billion in new loans while hospitals across the country struggle without basic medicines.

O’Neill said the Government has now raised K2 billion in just a matter of weeks, including K600 million from local banks for the Connect PNG program and K400 million from the Asian Development Bank, yet essential drugs remain unavailable.

“Last week Marape borrowed another K1 billion while doctors and nurses are being told to battle on without medicines,” O’Neill said.

He said Prime Minister James Marape’s comments to medical workers last Friday were unacceptable and insensitive.

“Marape told doctors and nurses to ‘do more with less’ and to stop complaining, while admitting his Government cannot release funds to buy essential medicines,” O’Neill said.

“How can our hardworking health workers save lives when there are no drugs on the shelves?”

O’Neill said the Prime Minister was shifting blame to frontline health staff after previously accusing Governors and Provincial Health Authorities of mismanaging the medicine budget.

“Three weeks ago he blamed PHAs and the Governors. Today he is blaming doctors and nurses. Yet he openly admits there is no money left to buy medicines,” he said.
“The truth is the Government has failed its people.”

He said public frustration was justified as hospitals continue to face chronic shortages, resulting in avoidable suffering and death.

“Hospitals are supposed to be places of healing. Our health workers are doing their job, but patients cannot recover when basic medicines are unavailable,” O’Neill said.

The former prime minister questioned why billions of kina were being committed to other programs, particularly Connect PNG, while vital health services were starved of funding.

“It is simply not acceptable for Papua New Guineans to be left without medicines while another K2 billion goes into what many see as a Waigani slush fund,” O’Neill said.

“If the money is not going to relieve our people’s suffering, then where is it going?”

He concluded with a blunt message to the Government: “Just stop the corrupt Connect PNG and buy medicines.”

14/11/2025

: Kainantu District Submits 2024 DSIP & DSG Reports, Sets Sights on Leading 2025 Acquittals

Friday November 14, 2025

KAINANTU District has formally submitted its 2024 District Services Improvement Program (DSIP) and District Support Grant (DSG) Implementation Reports to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) today, reaffirming its commitment to accountability and transparent service delivery.

The reports, containing both financial and physical expenditure details, outline key achievements, challenges and recommendations across all sectors.

Acting District Administrator Dickson Penai said the submissions align with the 2024 budget endorsed by the Kainantu District Development Authority (KDDA), with the bulk of DSIP funding directed to the district’s five pillar sectors: infrastructure, health, education, law and justice, and economic and administrative services.

DSG funds were used to support SMEs and community-driven initiatives in partnership with Faith-Based and Community-Based Organizations.

Mr Penai said his administration, over the past 12 months, has prioritised infrastructure development across the four LLGs in accordance with the Kainantu Five-Year District Development Plan (2023–2027), addressing long-neglected sectoral needs.

Despite challenges, he said basic government services have continued to reach communities under the leadership of local MP Hon. William Hagahuno.

He also confirmed that K14 million has been rolled over into the 2025 fiscal year and will form part of next year’s implementation reports.

Confident in the district’s performance, Mr Penai pledged that Kainantu would again be among the first districts to submit its 2025 DSIP and DSG acquittals.

He commended MP Hagahuno and the KDDA for their support, stressing the importance of unified leadership.

“Our development aspirations and challenges differ from other districts. Managing both administration and politics is my role, and we do it for the common good,” he said.

DIRD Acting Secretary Vaki and his team were also praised for enforcing timely reporting requirements.

Mr Penai reminded district and provincial administrations that financial reporting should not be done solely to satisfy DIRD or the Ombudsman Commission.

“Reporting of public funds must remain a priority,” he stressed.

DIRD First Assistant Secretary for Highlands & NGI, Harry Rei, acknowledged Kainantu’s consistent reporting, but reminded districts to ensure DSIP expenditures remain broad-based across all sectors.

He highlighted that DIRD has operated without monitoring funds for 15 years yet continues to perform its compliance and reporting duties.

Mr Rei also announced the rollout of ‘Bilum’, a new cloud-based digital reporting system enabling real-time, paperless monitoring of SIP compliance.

He clarified that public servants, not politicians, are responsible for submitting SIP reports.

“MPs often get blamed for non-performance, but it is public servants who must deliver programs and report on time,” he said.

Assistant Secretary for Highlands 1, James Dat, commended Kainantu for consistently submitting acquittals for 2023 and 2024, describing it as one of the best-performing districts in DSIP implementation and reporting.

DIRD reaffirmed its mandate to monitor and report on SIP implementation, while the Ombudsman Commission continues enforcing compliance under the Leadership Code, both agencies calling on remaining districts and provinces to furnish outstanding SIP reports.

13/11/2025

: Leader of Our Pati Hon. Rainbo Paita has been confirmed as the new Governor for Morobe Province after the Provincial Assembly poll today at Tutumang Haus in Lae Top Town.

12/11/2025

“Give Me Six Months — I’ll Clean Up Corruption”: Samson Komati Calls

PROMINENT governance advocate Samson Komati has declared that Papua New Guinea could see a historic turnaround in the fight against corruption within just six months — if decisive reforms and fearless leadership are put in place.

Komati says he is prepared to take on the challenge as Chief Ombudsman, vowing to bring long-stalled high-profile cases to completion and ensure corrupt leaders are swiftly referred to Leadership Tribunals for dismissal or prosecution.

“If appointed to lead the Ombudsman Commission, within six months we will have all the major corruption cases processed and referred to the Leadership Tribunal,” Komati said in a statement today.

“We will act by the book, without fear or favour, and make history in cleaning up PNG politics.”

Komati is calling for the merger of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the PNG Ombudsman Commission (PNGOC) into a single, powerful entity with both investigative and arresting powers.

He argues that this unified institution would eliminate bureaucratic overlap and empower investigators to act decisively against corrupt politicians and senior public officials.

“When 10 or 30 leaders are dismissed or jailed, others will think twice before touching public funds,” Komati said. “Corruption thrives on fear and favour. Once that fear shifts to those breaking the law, everything changes.”

He also proposed that all proceeds of corruption be frozen, confiscated, and sold, with the recovered funds transferred directly into the State Consolidated Revenue Account.

Komati stressed the importance of collaboration between a reformed Ombudsman Commission and a strong, no-nonsense Police Commissioner, saying the partnership would set a new standard in accountability and governance.

“We need an Ombudsman Commission that works hand in hand with a tough, uncompromising Police Commissioner,” he said. “Together, they can restore integrity in public service and bring an end to the culture of impunity.”

Komati’s call for reform has been welcomed by anti-corruption advocates who share his belief that decisive action, rather than policy talk, is the only way to restore public confidence in state institutions.

“Papua New Guinea deserves a government that serves the people, not itself,” Komati added. “We must rebuild trust, enforce the law, and return honesty and pride to public office.”

12/11/2025

: We Must Build Nadzab Airport City and Central City Through Innovative Funding

The Nadzab Airport City in Morobe Province and Central City at Bautama in Central Province can be developed as Special Economic Zones (SEZs) without much Government funding by using innovative funding through donors and the private sector.

The Government has been talking about these cities but we do not have the resources to build them. Let’s be honest with ourselves. The Government is not in a financial position to build these cities so we now have to be innovative and look at establishing them as SEZs.

I am already getting requests from the private sector who are keen to help with the building of these cities. However, I have advised them that we first have to put together the masterplans for these cities which should include the boundaries, the facilities to be located within the cities like commercial centres, hospitals, markets, and the enabling infrastructure including roads, water and power supplies and sewerage systems. All these should be captured in the masterplans for these cities before we can work with investors to build them. These cities should be well planned because they are modern cities that we are building in the modern era. They will be transformational projects of national significance that will be a gamechanger.

We do not want ad hoc submissions. For the Nadzab Airport City, the National Airports Corporation should not have its own plan and the landowners its own. All individual plans should be incorporated into one masterplan and we will give one SEZ license which all the locators will benefit from. Having one masterplan that captures all complementary infrastructure and services will result in development of a well-planned city. The same should be done for the Central City. The real estate development at Bautama can be a part of the masterplan for the Central City. We will not entertain individual plans.

After we put together the masterplans we can look at how we can attract private sector to fund enabling infrastructure and development of these cities. In return for the private sector putting down money, the Government will offer incentives. This is being done in many countries around the world and we will not go wrong if we go down this path. Our dream to build these cities can be realized if we develop them as SEZs so various investors can be locators.

These two cities, when developed, will be the first two cities to be built post independence and the Marape-Rosso Government has the opportunity now to build them using SEZ legislation and policy.

My Office and my Department stands ready to work with Morobe and Central Provincial Governments to develop the Nadzab Airport City and the Central City. We are also happy to work with the developers of both cities to look at how we can come up with the masterplans and transform these cities into SEZs. We will be hosting workshops in Lae and Port Moresby in January next year where we plan to bring together all stakeholders so we can work together to plan on how to put together the masterplans for these cities, how to develop them as SEZs, and how to find and attract both local and international investors to invest in these cities.

11/11/2025

: Bima Health Centre Construction Progresses Well

The construction of the new Bima Health Centre at Bima 2 village in Sause LLG is advancing rapidly, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the building team. This state-of-the-art health facility is set to serve the healthcare needs of the entire Konge Ring community, providing much-needed medical services to the region.

In addition to the health centre, work is underway to build a staff residence, which is expected to be completed by the end of January 2025. Once operational, the health centre will significantly improve healthcare access for the underserved residents of the 12 villages within the Konge Ring area.

The project team has been commended for their commitment to quality and their swift progress, ensuring that the community will soon benefit from enhanced health services. The successful development of this centre marks an important step towards better healthcare delivery in the region.

10/11/2025

PUBLIC APPEAL ON BEHALF OF GAMBOGL FARMERS

The Simbu Notice Board, on behalf of the hardworking farmers of Gambogl, is appealing to the Simbu Provincial Government for urgent assistance.

Our local farmers are producing plenty of fresh vegetables and garden food, but they are struggling to find enough market space. Most of their produce is only sold at Yuai Market and Wara Market, and because of limited buyers, many vegetables stay too long and end up rotting and smelling bad.

We kindly ask the Provincial Government to step in and help create better market opportunities for our Gambogl farmers — through improved market facilities, transportation support, or buyer connections.

Your support will help our farmers continue their hard work and keep food supply strong in Simbu Province.

Thank you for listening and supporting our rural farmers.

NB: This Appeal was raised by Simbu Notice Board on behalf of Gambogl Farmers

10/11/2025

RUBIANG NAMED ACTING EASTERN HIGHLANDS PPC

[10 November 2025, NBC Simbu]

Detective Superintendent Mazuc M. Rubiang, the current Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Simbu Province, has been appointed as the Acting PPC for Eastern Highlands Province, effective immediately.

The decision was finalized by the police hierarchy at the Police Headquarters in Konedobu, Port Moresby.

Superintendent Rubiang is set to bring extensive investigative and command experience to his new temporary post, following a distinguished tenure in Simbu.

His appointment is part of the ongoing efforts by the force to strengthen policing leadership and operational capabilities across Eastern Highlands Province.

Police sources confirmed that this is a temporary acting appointment only.

Superintendent Rubiang is scheduled to resume his full duties as PPC Simbu once a permanent appointment for the Eastern Highlands position has been finalized.
Ends

10/11/2025

: UOG Senate Announces Key End-of-Year Decisions

The University of Goroka Senate, in a meeting with the Top Management Team and 22 Provincial Student Leaders, has announced several key decisions regarding the completion of the 2025 academic year. The resolutions were formally released by Vice Chancellor Dr. Teng Waniga.

According to the announcement, Year 1, 2, and 3 students are free to return home immediately for a two-week break, which will extend through Christmas. During the break, final examinations will be conducted online via Google Classroom or Module Classroom between November 24th and 29th.

The Senate also confirmed that 75 percent of student assessments have been completed. Final-year, in-service, and content-upgrade students will return to campus on November 24th after a two-week recess. The university will provide accommodation and support until the end of the academic year.

Students are reminded to stay in contact with their lecturers and complete any remaining tasks. Graduation has been scheduled for January 2026.

Students unable to travel home immediately may remain on campus until they are ready to leave.