Government regularly updates public on workflow

Manama, Aug. 7 (BNA): Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Ebrahim Al Mattawa said that "His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister always regularly follows up the progress achieved in implementing the Government Action Plan (GAP2015-2018) within a comprehensive follow-up and assessment mechanism. Al-Mattawa cited the memorandum he submitted during the Cabinet's session on July 25 which included various national projects fully accomplished as well as other projects still being implemented, that reflects the government's keenness on detailed, thorough regular tracking of work progress in all projects included in the Government Action Plan. He stressed the government's keenness on keeping citizens constantly updated about the work progress in these projects so that public opinion is fully transparently informed about the percentage of accomplishment in the various projects, as well as any difficulties that might face the implementation process and the availability of the necessary budgets. He said all governmental ministries and directorates have translated the Government Action Plan into implementable plans being constantly tracked through GAP's electronic system which covers numerous educational, health, housing and services projects. Many of these projects have been fully implemented in addition to tracking the status of a large bundle of projects currently being implemented. He said among the government-implemented projects were Sanad, Arad, al-Busaiteen and Hoorat Sanad housing projects, affirming that work was ongoing in several other projects all over the Kingdom of Bahrain's areas according to the work priority programme and budgets allocated for these projects. He added that the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry has also finalized numerous projects, including Phase I of Muharraq Ring Road and Hawar Street, as well as the sanitary engineering projects in Ease Riffa, Nabih Saleh, Aali, Dar Klaib, Al-Hamala and other areas. He said at the directives of his Royal Highness the Prime Minister, the various ministries and directorates have always been keen when preparing the government action plan that the main drive will be to achieve the priorities of the nation and its citizens by giving priority to education, health, housing and services projects. He said that to decide these priorities was reliant upon an in-depth, thorough and precise studying of citizens aspirations and needs through the ministries and directorates plans in addition to cooperation with the bicameral legislature – i.e. the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council - and direct meeting with citizens in their locales and districts as well as monitoring and follow-up of citizens' issues published on various press and media channels. The Cabinet affairs minister said "despite the economic challenges tackled by the government in the current phase of global economic crunch which closely links us with world and the region's countries as a result of plummeting oil prices, however, His Royal Highness the Prime Minister constantly directed to place the citizens at the forefront of priorities in the ministries and directorates plans and programmes to ensure the citizens' living or livelihood should not be adversely affected.