Kerema district in Gulf province, has entered a partnership with the Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR) to establish a District Community Development Centre (DCDC).

The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed in Port Moresby by Kerema MP and Finance Minister Thomas Opa, Minister for Youth, Religion and Community Development Jason Peter, and DFCDR Secretary Jerry Ubase.

The project is estimated to cost K2 million, with the department and the district each contributing 50 percent of the funding.

Minister Peter congratulated the Kerema District Development Authority (DDA) for its commitment, noting that Kerema is the second district this year, following Kerowagi, to join the initiative.

“This agreement is an important step towards strengthening community development services at the district level,” Minister Peter said.

“We signed MoAs with a number of districts last year, and this year Kerema becomes the second district after Kerowagi to come on board.”

He added that the DCDC will ensure protection and empowerment programs reach the community effectively so that ‘no one is left behind.’

Meanwhile, Minister Opa emphasized the importance of infrastructure that serves vulnerable populations and expressed his desire for swift action.

“I consider this a very important infrastructure project for Kerema District.”

“On behalf of our people and the Kerema DDA team, we are not only here to sign the MoA, but we want to see this project fully implemented.”

The signing was witnessed by Acting Director for the National Office of Child and Family Services Jerry Wap, the Kerema DDA team, and senior department managers.

This center marks a significant step in decentralizing social services to the rural areas of Gulf Province.