President Joko Widodo Urges to End Old Budget Planning Tradition

President Joko Widodo receives a report from Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung before leading a limited meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/4) afternoon

President Joko Widodo emphasized that synergy as well as synchronization are the keys for a more efficient and effective national development.

“I don’t want to use old traditions anymore, in which planning and budgeting are not synchronized. It makes the targeted goals are not met,” the President said in his introductory remarks at a Limited Meeting discussing the draft of Presidential Instruction on National Development Planning and Budgeting Synchronization, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/4) afternoon.

The President firmly said that the concept “money follows the function” can no longer be used. It should be “money follows the program”. Therefore, the President reminded that planning must be integrated, consolidated, as well as well-organized among sectors and regions, between Central Government and regional governments. There must not be sectoral ego anymore.

“Our focus is to bring the benefits of the program to the people and the program must also be able to stimulate multiplier effect,” the President said.

The budgeting, according to the President, must also be focus and must have a clear priority so that all ministries/institutions can propose their planning and budgeting in their own ministry/institution.

The President expected National Development Planning Agency as well as Ministry of Finance to be an example of how to implement the synergy.

The Limited Meeting was attended by Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Health Nila Moeloek, Minister of Education and Culture Anies Baswedan, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency Sofyan Djalil, and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki. (DND/DNA/AGG/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)