The year 2023 marks a significant change for the government of Jayapura. This year Jayapura City government manages Rp. 169 billion special autonomy fund. For comparison, in 2022, the central government allocated 121 billion rupiahs for the same fund. This year’s fund is Rp48 billion rupiahs more than last year.
Other than the significant change in the amount, there is another change in the distribution regulation. Jayapura City government now has a bigger responsibility to manage this fund. Therefore, they will carry out different plans for getting, managing, and distributing funds.
Funds Ditribution for Jayapura City
Dessy Wanggai is the Head of BPKAD in Jayapura City. She confirmed the funds will be disbursed in stages. So, the local government will not manage the entirety of the special autonomy funds all at once.
She added that the disbursement will be split into three stages. In the first stage, Jayapura City will receive 30 percent. Then in the second stage, they will receive 45 percent of it. While the third, the last one, will depend on the progress of the previous stages.
Although the Ministry of Finance has explained these disbursement stages, Dessy Wanggai said they have not received the first disbursement. She could not inform the exact dates for these disbursements either.
The Ministry of Finance rolls new regulations for this fund, giving the authority to manage it to the Head of the State Treasury Service Office. It will be under the direct order of the Budget User Authority. All this information was shared with the public after the Musrenbang event on April 12, 2023.
Since last year, the Ministry of Finance changed how the fund was distributed. It directly sends the funds to Jayapura City’s account and other cities/regions’ accounts.
Before, the West Papua Provincial Government received it. Then the cities/districts had to wait for the provincial government to allocate and distribute it.
The Acting Mayor of Jayapura City, Frans Pekey, mentioned the city/district government used to have difficulties accessing this fund. There was a long process of confirmation and approval from the provincial government before they could determine the amount of funds allocated to their region. After that, they still have to wait for the distribution as well.
Managing Special Autonomy Funds
Compared to the fund they received in 2021, it increases by four times. The increase is already in accordance with the budget allocation from the Ministry of Finance since there is of 0,25% increase in the 2023 National General Allocation Fund.
However, the Jayapura City government has made plans to distribute this fund to its people. They assembled to talk about the best way to allocate the fund they receive from the government.
The Jayapura City government just finished holding the Musrenbang event for the region. At this event, they also discussed and decided on plans for fund distribution.
Frans Pekey informed at the moment, they are prioritizing four sectors. These are education for the children, healthcare, economic empowerment, and infrastructure.
These sectors are the most important for the Papuan people right now. Furthermore, this distribution plan is in accordance with the central government’s regulations.
There are only 21 Regional Aparratus Organizations (OPD) in Jayapura City. These OPDs will be responsible for directly managing the special autonomy funds. Therefore, the Jayapura City government implies the importance of good planning of the funds for the benefit of its people.
Frans Pekey expects the OPDs to begin with proper planning in favor of its citizens. Jayapura City government manages Rp169 billion special autonomy fund in high spirit to bring prosperity to its people.
