Papua New Guinea’s provincial administrations have been reminded that they already have a legal responsibility to lead disaster management in their respective provinces under the National Disaster Act of 1984.

Speaking at the presentation of the Provincial Disaster Centre Institutional Capacity Assessment, Minister for Health and National Emergency Services Dr. Billy Joseph said the responsibility of provincial authorities is clearly established in law.

He said the Act provides for a Provincial Disaster Committee in every province, with the Provincial Administrator serving as its chairman.

The Minister said provincial disaster management should therefore not be treated as a new responsibility arising from recent government decisions.

“It is not a new creature,” Dr. Joseph said.

He said the provincial disaster committees have existed under the legislation for decades and were established specifically to ensure disaster response is managed as close as possible to affected communities.

“You have always been existing since 1994 pursuant to this Act.”

According to Dr. Joseph, the National Disaster Centre is not intended to take over the responsibilities of provincial authorities, but to coordinate support to them.

“At the National Disaster Center, we are supposed to coordinate all support to you.”

He said information about disasters must begin at the community and district levels, with provincial authorities responsible for collecting and reporting information before assistance is coordinated nationally.

Dr Joseph also stated that the decentralized structure means provinces must take greater ownership of their disaster management responsibilities.

“I think by this Act, the management of disaster is now a decentralized function.”

He also called on provincial governments to ensure disaster management is reflected in their planning, budgeting and administrative structures.

He said provincial authorities need to be aware that they are among the first responders when disasters occur.

“The first respondents in any disaster, whether it be a serious issue like El Nino, or Cyclone Maila, or landslide in Mulitaka or any disaster, the Provincial Disaster Management Committee led by the Provincial Administrator, you must be aware, it is your job to be ready.”

He acknowledged that provinces face different challenges, however, stronger local capacity is essential because disasters are first experienced at the community and provincial levels.

The Minister’s comments come as government, and its development partners work to strengthen provincial disaster management systems across the country.

The first-ever national institutional capacity assessment covers all 22 provinces and is intended to identify areas where provincial systems require greater support.