ACT NOW! challenges MPs on missing District plans

ACT NOW! has challenged members of parliament to explain the absence of district five- year development plans, warning that accountability failures are undermining public trust as the 2027 general election approaches.

Campaign Manager Eddie Tanago said most districts are not meeting reporting requirements.

“Only 37 out of 96 DDAs have a five- year plan, and just 12 are publicly available,” he told Post- Courier Online.

The latest District Development Authority Watch Website report found only one district has published its annual budget and one has released an acquittal report. No inspection reports or financial audits are publicly available.

Tanago stressed that MPs are required to submit reports (acquittal for the previous year) by March 31 each year, but compliance remains low.

“Transparency and accountability remain a huge problem,” he said.

The report revealed that most DDAs cannot be easily contacted by the public.

Just eight DDAs list an email, even though email is now the basic communication tool.

Only 13 DDAs provide a phone number, despite mobile phones being common across Papua New Guinea.

Just 20 DDAs list a mailing address, usually a post office box

The lack of contact information means ordinary citizens cannot reach their district authorities to ask questions, lodge complaints, or request updates on projects.

In some cases, DDAs reportedly operate from private homes, making them even harder to access.

This is a serious barrier to accountability! Without clear contact channels, people cannot check how their district’s K20 million annual allocation is being spent.

Average district scores sit at just 18 out of 100.

Provinces such as Milne Bay and Hela recorded some of the lowest ratings, while West New Britain and Western Province performed slightly better.

ACT NOW! said the lack of openness raises questions about whether public funds are being used effectively.

The group urged citizens to demand answers from their leaders and to use social auditing to them accountable.

“People must ask questions from the facts provided in the media and in this report. That is the only way to hold leaders accountable,” Tanago said.

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