Since January until April 11, 2014, the 2014 City Budget (APBD) has just been absorbed 8 percent of the total budget of Rp 72 trillion. Such amount is assessed still very low, so the regional working alliance (SKPD) and regional working unit (UKPD) are demanded to carry out the proposed programs immediately. Moreover, procurement service unit (ULP) has been formed to serve all goods and services auctions in the city.

So, we have to be in full speed. And by the mid of May, around 15-16, all SKPDs and UKPDs should have proposed for auction process to ULP

Head of Jakarta Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Andi Baso Mappapoleonro, asks SKPD and UKPD to immediately propose for auction process through ULP which was formed a month ago. “In the first three months or approaching first semester of regional budget this year, the city has run many development programs,” he stated, Tuesday (4/15).

Mappapoleonro explained that currently running prioritized programs are housing, park construction and improvement, Marunda Reservoir dredging, and Social Security Agency (BPJS). As for the programs that have not entered physical construction yet, it is mostly because those programs are still in general planning by proposing auction process to ULP. Until now, out of more than 700 SKPDs and UKPDs, only 37 of them have proposed for auction process to ULP.

According to him, the low budget absorption is caused by the late APBD ratification which leads to the late program realization. “ So, we have to be in full speed. And by the mid of May, around 15-16, all SKPDs and UKPDs should have proposed for auction process to ULP ,” asserted Mappapoleonro.

This low budget absorption has been evaluated by Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo. Moreover, this year target absorption is still the same with last year target, which is 97 percent. The governor had growled because SKPD only absorbed the 2013 APBD for as much as 83 percent, which is still far from previous target.