Imbonggu partners with PNGCIR and Department of Community Development to roll out NID registration

The Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry [PNGCIR] has entered into a partnership with the Imbonggu District Development Authority [IDDA] and the Department of Community Development to roll out National Identification [NID] and birth certificate registration services in Imbonggu District, Southern Highlands Province.

The registration exercise will be based at one of district administration offices in Walume. It aims to bring essential civil registration services closer to the people.

An official Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] for the collaboration was signed today in Port Moresby.

Under the MoU, PNGCIR will provide the required manpower and registration kits, while the Imbonggu DDA will provide office space to support the operation. The rollout will be implemented through the Department of Community Development’s Community and Social Services Program.

Officiating at the signing were PNGCIR Registrar General Salome Bogosia, Imbonggu DDA Chief Executive Officer Joseph Timothy, and Deputy Secretary for the Department of Community Development Jenny Kila.

Imbonggu District CEO Joseph Timothy said the district is open to partnerships with all government agencies to ensure services are available at the district level.

He said this approach will allow people to access basic services at their doorstep.

Mr Timothy said Imbonggu is an ideal location for people from across the district and Southern Highlands Province, especially students and youth, to register so they can apply for jobs, police or defence recruitment, and other opportunities.

“We’ve opened up partnerships with all state agencies and we already have Air Niugini, MVIL (Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited), Internal Revenue Commission [IRC] and others. NID is one of those. Our aim is to create a one-stop-shop hub for important services.

“We want this MoU to come to fruition. From our end we are committed and ready and the government agencies we sign MoU with must also commit to it. That’s not specifically to PNGCIR and there were other agencies we’ve signed MoUs with and we really want them to honor the commitment and come on board so let’s work together to serve the people,” Mr Timothy said.

Registrar General Ms Bogosia said PNGCIR will fully support the MoU.

“We are ready to bring in the system to be able to perform the registration function and to partner with the Department of Community Development in terms of raising awareness around the importance of registration, mobilizing the local leadership within the district, and looking at completely registration of our people, which is a very important government project, and that our people need that as well.”

Ms Bogosia added that they are looking forward to signing additional MOUs with other districts.

“And going down that path, we're fully establishing the provinces, and we're now going down to the districts.

“So, it's a historic signing for PNGCIR as well, and I'm sure the Department of Community Development has been the first to drive this for us at district level, and I want to salute you for that.”

The MoU is expected to effectively rollout early next year going forward.