MORE than 300 million dollars in livelihood funds in the 2017 budget will go to constituencies for rural development this year.

The Leader of the Official Opposition Hon Jeremiah Manele disclosed this on the floor of Parliament yesterday when contributing on the Sine Die motion moved by the Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare.

These funds, Hon Manele added, if utilised properly should improve basic needs and services such as housing, water and sanitation, lighting, transport, and income generating initiatives; and in the process help us to achieve some of the sustainable development goals in our rural areas.

“Sir, at this juncture, I wish on behalf of my good people of Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency to sincerely thank the government especially the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury for facilitating and funding our constituency projects and programs during the last two years.

“My people look forward to this ongoing close collaboration,” Hon Manele said.

During this meeting Members of Parliament also debated and passed a private member’s motion for the government to consider introducing a formula for a fair allocation of constituency development funds to all 50 constituencies based on population, remoteness, hardship and other factors commencing in 2018.

“This as many of us agreed is timely and the right thing to do. Sir, I look forward to our deliberations on this new formula,” the Opposition Leader added.