President Jokowi Calls for Budget Consolidation, Prioritizing of Strategic Programs
President Jokowi opens the 5th National Deliberation of the Association of Indonesian Municipalities Government (APKASI) from the State Palace in Central Jakarta (26/03/2021). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Agung)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Friday (26/03/2021) urged regional governments to prioritize the budget allocation for the implementation of strategic programs that are essential and needed by the public.
“We must safeguard and prioritize strategic programs in the regencies that can resolve fundamental problems and bring progress,” the President said at the opening of the 5th National Deliberation of the Association of Indonesian Municipalities Government (APKASI) from the State Palace in Central Jakarta.
On that occasion, the Head of State also reminded regional governments to conduct the budget consolidation, adding that the plan to spend regional budgets (APBD) should be taken every detail into account and focused on priority programs essential and needed by the community.
If the priority programs of the regency are market development, rice field opening, or road construction, the President added, the APBD should be allocated to prioritize the implementation of those programs.
According to the President, the budget allocation scheme based on the scale of the priority will also facilitate the supervision of its use.
“The budget is limited. The State Budget (APBN) is limited. The APBD is also limited. Do not allocate it evenly. And the most important thing is if the budget is focused (on priority programs), there will be a priority scale. It will be easier to control. The management of supervision is also easy,” he said.
Furthermore, the Head of State also reminded that the implementation of the program required detailed and mature plans, and good supervision management, while stressing that the programs should benefit the community.
In addition, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the President reminded the regional governments to continue 3T program (testing, tracing, and treatment) and vaccinations, adding that acceleration of economic recovery is an important key, but this must be controlled.
“As I said earlier, if the number of COVID-19 cases increase, be careful. Stop first. Step by step, sector by sector, do not have to hurry,” he said.
As part of the economic recovery measures, the President also ordered regional governments to implement more programs and provide more assistance and stimulus that can create jobs and boost the economy of the community.
The regional governments are also expected to provide stimulus for (MSMEs) and other sectors, he added.
The President also reminded regional governments to prioritize the use of local products, especially in the implementation of government programs or projects in order to boost local economy and to protect the employee from being laid off.
At the closing of his speech, the Head of State also ordered regional governments to serve and facilitate the businesses in the region including the SME sector that want to export their products.
Similar services should also be given to investors who will invest, he added.
“The keys to our economy now are these two aspect, investment and export. That’s because the APBN is limited. Investment could drive economic growth. Therefore, the Copyright Act and PP (Government Regulation), Presidential Regulation (Presidential Regulation) have all been enacted in the constitution in order to make it all easier, easy for entrepreneurs to invest, create jobs. Provide them our best service,” said the President.
Echoing a similar sentiment, Banyuwangi Regent as Chairperson of APKASI Abdullah Azwar Anas said that the regents all over Indonesia are committed to optimizing the use of the APBD as a fiscal instrument to help accelerating the economic recovery by emphasizing the demand side approach or stimulating the increase of household consumption spending.
Azwar added that in order to speed up economic growth, especially in areas that have tourism potential, regional governments will develop village-based tourist attractions supported by good amenities and accessibility so that the economic recovery can be encouraged from villages.
On that occasion, the Chairman of APKASI also affirmed the commitment of egional governments to support and safeguard the Government programs’ in tackling pandemic, including accelerating the implementation of vaccinations and the implementation of Restrictions on micro-based community activities (PPKM Mikro) in the regions (TGH/FIA/UN) (AP/EP)
