The Eastern Highlands Provincial Administration has made notable progress in restoring government services and rebuilding public confidence following a prolonged political deadlock that spanned from 2012 to 2018.

This development was underscored by Provincial Administrator Mr. Allen Los during the official handover of the 2024 Annual Provincial Performance Report (APPR) to the Department of Provincial and Local-Level Government Affairs yesterday. The submission of the report fulfills a statutory obligation under Section 119 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-Level Government (1995).

Mr. Los acknowledged that the extended political impasse had significantly disrupted the delivery of essential services, displaced public servants, and caused the breakdown of key sectors, including health, education, transport and infrastructure, primary industries, law and justice, and governance.

Prior to 2012, “Eastern Highlands was once among the top five performing provinces in Papua New Guinea. However, the political turmoil during those years caused a sharp decline in our service delivery capacity, including a lapse in submitting Section 119 reports,” Mr. Los said.

He emphasized that under new political leadership and with the appointment of a new Provincial Administrator, the province has experienced a steady recovery. Public service morale has significantly improved, internal revenue collection has seen a notable increase, and several major impact projects have been successfully implemented across the region.

“Between 2012 and 2018, the province was embroiled in numerous legal disputes that led to frequent changes in key administrative positions, including the Provincial Administrator and divisional heads,” Mr. Los explained.

He noted that service delivery was severely hindered by the failure to implement an updated government structure.

“Eighty percent of public servants should be stationed at the local level government (LLG), with only 20 percent based at the provincial headquarters,” he added.

Recovery efforts began in earnest in 2023, with notable achievements in governance and service delivery. Key Impact Projects Implemented

 “These achievements reflect our commitment to restoring good governance and delivering meaningful development to our people. Eastern Highlands is now on its way to reclaiming its position as a model province,” Mr. Los said.

He reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and inclusive development.

“These are positive indicators of a province that has reset its course under a new political and administrative leadership. These initiatives were financed through the province’s internal revenue” said Secretary Leo.

Upon receiving the report, Department Secretary Philip Leo emphasized the importance of provinces fulfilling their legal responsibilities by submitting the Annual Provincial Performance Report (APPR) to the Department of Provincial and Local-Level Government Affairs (DPLGA).

“It would be ideal for both the Section 114 and Section 119 reports to be submitted to DPLGA for review and onward transmission to the Department of Finance. Alignments such as these are essential for enhancing and reinforcing accountability mechanisms. The two reports should be considered together,” Mr. Leo stated.

He also noted that, nearly 30 years since the enactment of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local-Level Government (OLPLLG) in 1995, the DPLGA is in the process of developing enabling legislation under the Provincial and Local-Level Services Monitoring Authority (PLLSMA) to further strengthen the law’s implementation and operational effectiveness.