The aid funds must be delivered right on target to realize equal welfare distribution. West Papua is one of the areas that deserve aid funds. There is good news for West Papuans in April because hundreds of billions were disbursed in West Papua’s 2023 village funds.
Head of the West Papua Regional Office of DJPb Purwadhi Adhiputranto said, “Of the 803 villages, 408 villages have done the first phase of distribution, and the remaining 395 villages have not”. He made this statement when interviewed by ANTARA in Manokwari (13/4/2023).
The total village funds disbursed in West Papua Province, according to the Regional Office of DJPb West Papua, amounted to Rp110 billion. The funds are village funds only for the period January-March 2023.
To date, the distribution of village funds that have been realized has reached 16.62 percent of the total ceiling of Rp.662.50 billion.
In detail, you can see the percentage below:
- Manokwari Regency has disbursed Rp39.53 billion (31.39%) of the ceiling of Rp125.96 billion.
- Teluk Bentuni District has disbursed Rp34.16 billion (34.06%) of the ceiling of Rp100.30 billion.
- Fakfak Regency has disbursed Rp20.09 billion (17.04%) of the ceiling of Rp117.90 billion.
The other three districts that have not yet disbursed village funds are:
- Pegunungan Arfak Regency: Total ceiling of Rp124.96 billion
- Kaimana Regency: Total ceiling of Rp82.29 billion
- South Manokwari Regency: Total ceiling of Rp48.34 billion.
This is in accordance with what Purwadhi Adhiputranto said “Four districts have carried out the distribution of phase one. The other three districts are still at zero percent”. Of course, the three districts that have not disbursed village funds have their reasons for not disbursed.
Why Villages?
With the distribution of village funds in West Papua, it is hoped that it will increase the welfare of West Papuans. Then the question is, why should village funds? Why not MSME funds or something else?
Villages are the smallest autonomous regions in the country’s autonomous structure. So if you want to lift a country’s economy, you must start from the smallest autonomous area, namely the village. The distribution of village funds is very appropriate as an effort to advance West Papua, which in turn is the progress of Indonesia.
The one responsible for the accuracy of allocating village funds according to their purpose is the district government. This is in line with what was conveyed by Purwadhi “The regency can educate village officials so that the utilization is right on target”.
Meanwhile, the purpose of the distribution of village funds is the welfare of the village so that all villagers can feel the benefits. The main consideration should be the interests of the general public rather than personal interests.
West Papua Zero Percent Power
In addition to the three districts in West Papua that have distributed village funds, five districts in Southwest Papua have not distributed funds. Where the village funds in 2023 are a total of Rp697.33 billion.
The fantastic total ceiling is intended for 939 villages. The five districts in question are:
- Maybrat Regency: Total ceiling of Rp182.29 billion
- Sorong Regency: Total ceiling of Rp164.36 billion
- Tambrauw Regency: Total ceiling Rp161.59 billion
- South Sorong Regency: Total ceiling of Rp97.13 billion
- Raja Ampat Regency: Total ceiling of Rp91.94 billion.
With the existence of several regencies that have not distributed the village funds, it becomes a separate responsibility for the Regional Office of DJPb West Papua. To encourage these regencies to realize the distribution of village funds.
Nevertheless, we still have to monitor how the funds are disbursed and used according to the purpose of the funds disbursement. If all parties, including the community, can work together well, then the welfare of villages in West Papua can be realized soon.
So that the hundreds of billions disbursed in West Papua’s 2023 village funds are not in vain. Thus a little information that we can share. Hopefully, it will be useful.
