MBPG community development launches digital database

The Milne Bay Provincial Government [MBPG] Division of Community Development has officially moved into the digital age with the launch of a new online data system, ending years of manual record-keeping.

The cloud-based database, launched last week, is designed to streamline case management, store client information, and manage record systems securely online.

The initiative was spearheaded by Kento Muchizuki, a software engineer and Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] volunteer currently attached to the division. The transition to a digital platform is expected to modernize how social services are tracked across the province.

Principal Advisor Alfred Kidilon welcomed the system, saying that the division has long struggled with the loss of physical files. He said restarting lost case files was a major burden that hindered the department’s progress.

"Sometimes it takes us a long time; we have to retype everything," Kidilon said. "With this system, there is no need to retype. You just click a button and the report is generated within seconds."

Kidilon said the system is designed for broader reach beyond the central office in Alotau. He confirmed that the database will be a vital tool for tracking reports and records from the province’s various districts and Local Level Governments [LLGs].

The division hopes to ensure that no client data is lost by providing a centralized cloud access point, regardless of where the case originates.

The digital shift is expected to efficiently reduce administrative turnaround times, allowing officers to focus more on community service and less on paperwork.