The 2014 City Budget (APBD) absorption is still worrying. Until this month, the absorption is still below 30 percent out of total APBD as much as Rp 72.9 trillion.

Total budget absorption is still below 30 percent. We’re continuously pushing all work units (SKPD) to increase their budget absorption

"Total budget absorption is still below 30 percent. We're continuously pushing all work units (SKPD) to increase their budget absorption," stated Head of Jakarta Finance Management Board (BPKD), Endang Widjajanti, Tuesday (9/16).

According to Widjajanti, one of the causes of this low budget absorption is the fact there are more than 5,000 activity packages still being processed in Jakarta Goods and Services Procurement Unit (ULP). Moreover, there are also many documents returned to SKPDs to be completed.

"All auctions are handled by ULP. Some have been announced and some others have reached contract," she told.

Even so, Widjajanti hopes the APBD absorption this year could be higher than previous years. It was recorded that APBD absorption in 2012 was 80 percent of Rp 41.3 trillion, while in 2013 reaching 82 percent of Rp 50.1 trillion.

“In sya Allah (with God’s permission), this year we try to make APBD absorption higher than previous years,” she expressed.

In addition, Widjajanti informed that next year all activities implementation will already be using e-budgeting system. Actually, this system has been implemented this year. However, the implementation is not conducted from planning.

“This year is still transition period, so the planning is still manual. Next year, from planning until implementation use e-budgeting system. Of course we’re hoping for a more optimal result,” she uttered.