Department of Provincial and Local-Level Government Affairs (DPLGA) Secretary Philip Leo has challenged Central Province’s 16 LLG Presidents to become agents of change and transform the way government systems operate at the grassroots level.
He made the call during the opening of the 2026 Central Province Local-Level Government Leaders Induction Workshop held on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Port Moresby.
In his first official address to a provincial assembly following last year’s National LLG Elections, Mr. Leo urged the newly elected leaders to see their positions as an opportunity to rebuild governance from the ground up.
“Do not take this as another occasion or meeting for tea and coffee. We are right at the intersection of our nation’s journey after 50 years. From last year’s Independence Anniversary to this year’s September 16, it is the Year of Jubilee, the year of rebuilding, and it starts with us and it all begins in the home,” Mr. Leo said.
He said the government system was designed to function from the bottom up, starting at ward level before progressing through LLGs and provincial administrations, but acknowledged this structure had not been fully realised over the past five decades.
“The system works from the wards to the LLGs and then to the province. That is how the government is supposed to function, but unfortunately that has not been the case over the last 50 years. We have lost the way our governance system should function,” he said.
The Central Province Local-Level Government Leaders Induction Workshop is a capacity building initiative delivered in partnership with the DPLGA. The mandatory program is designed to equip newly elected and serving LLG presidents and ward councillors with a deeper understanding of assembly procedures, governance requirements, and leadership responsibilities.
The workshop also serves as a call to action for leaders to strengthen accountability and deliver tangible results for their communities.
Acting Provincial Administrator Magini Raga said the program will provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively serve their communities.
“The theme of the induction program, Strengthening and Promoting Local Governance for Effective Ward Development, is timely and relevant. It reminds us that effective leadership begins at the grassroots level, where decisions directly impact the lives of our people,” Mr. Raga said.
“Over the coming days, you will gain valuable knowledge on governance, planning, budgeting, financial management, ethics, leadership, accountability, and development planning from experienced facilitators drawn from key government institutions.”
The weeklong workshop in Port Moresby brings together 16 LLG presidents from across Central Province to strengthen local governance and improve service delivery at community level, with ward councillors scheduled for induction next week.
As Papua New Guinea reflects on more than five decades of nationhood, leaders were reminded that meaningful national development must begin in villages, wards, and local communities.
