Kerowagi District in Chimbu province has marked the start of construction on a two-storey District Community Development Centre (DCDC), intended to bring government services and community programs closer to people in the electorate.

A traditional 'Sanapim-Pos' groundbreaking ceremony was held on 29th September, following a Memorandum of Agreement signed in July between the Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) and the Kerowagi District Development Authority (DDA).

Minister for Community Development, Youth and Religion Jason Peter thanked the DDA and local community for supporting the project. He also acknowledged Kerowagi MP and Education Minister Francis Kikin Siune for backing the partnership.

Peter said Kerowagi was the first district in Chimbu Province to work with his department to establish a DCDC. He described the centre as a way to make services more accessible, particularly for people who are often underserved.

“People should not have to travel long distances simply to reach basic government support. This centre is intended to bring services closer to Kerowagi families, while giving vulnerable and marginalized groups a place where they can access assistance and take part in community programs,” Minister Peter said.

He said the project supported the Government’s development priorities, including the Medium-Term Development Plan VI and Vision 2050, which focuses on extending services to districts, wards, and villages.

“Reset PNG: Going Rural means directing development to the communities where most of our people live. But a building alone cannot deliver lasting change. The people of Kerowagi must work together, use the centre and take ownership of the opportunities it provides,” the Minister emphasized.

Member for Kerowagi and Minister for Education, Francis Siune welcomed the agreement between DFCDR and the Kerowagi DDA, saying the centre would reduce the need for residents to travel to other towns to access services.

“This centre is being planned as a practical service point for our people. With offices such as Civil Registry and Air Niugini represented here, residents will have more reasons to seek assistance locally rather than travelling to Kundiawa, Hagen or Goroka,” Minister Siune said.

The proposed facility will also support programs for women, young people, older persons and people living with disability. Its aim is to provide a more accessible base for community development initiatives across the district.

The ground-breaking ceremony signals the beginning of construction, while the partnership between DFCDR and the Kerowagi DDA sets out the project’s development framework.

The centre’s longer-term impact will depend on the services established there and how effectively they reach communities throughout Kerowagi.