Entering second semester, the absorption of City Budget is still very low, which is only 20 percent of Rp 72 trillion. For that, Jakarta Regional Development Planning Board (Bappeda) asks regional working units (SKPD) to speed up the development process. However, Bappeda also rejected some of the activities returned by SKPD.

SKPD should have been more ready because they are doing it every year. The only thing changed is only the receipt

Head of Jakarta Bappeda, Andi Baso Mappapoleonro, admitted it. According to him, if all activities returned were rejected, SKPD would not do any development activities this year. He also insinuated the performances of SKPD which still getting paid but not working by returning their activities to Bappeda.

“Many (SKPD) returned their activities, but we rejected. If so, all of his (Basuki) staff would return their activities. Well that’s convenient being Jakarta’s civil servants, not working but getting paid,” he insinuated, Tuesday (7/1).

Mappapoleonro disclosed that the one of the activities which returned but rejected is the clean water supply pipe planting work done by Jakarta Public Works Department. The reason why the activity rejected being returned is that budget as much as Rp 100 billion has been prepared for it and public private partnership (PPP) is being drafted.

“If tomorrow the PPP is signed, who would do the work?” he said.

However, Jakarta Bappeda also allowed some activities returned, such as TransJakarta bus purchase, school rehabilitation, and gas-filling station (SPBG) construction. They are allowed to be returned because there is not enough time to carry out the activities.

“No more time to do it. So, the activities will later be handed out to private parties or city-owned enterprises (BUMD) to accelerate the development,” he told.

According to Mappapoleonro, although the work will be faster, handing out development work to BUMD is assessed not too good because it means that SKPD do not work well.

“BUMD is faster, but it’s not good. In case of emergency like this, it’s possible. We have to change the system next year,” he stated.

In addition, Mappapoleonro explained that low budget absorption this year happens because all activities got held back in Goods and Services Procurement Service Unit (ULP). Moreover, the SKPD also have to complete the documents first before the auction is conducted.

“SKPD should have been more ready because they are doing it every year. The only thing changed is only the receipt. Previously, the auction was announced first then the documents prepared. But now in ULP, such a thing is prohibited,” he uttered.