Peter K. | Papuan Student
The central government will give wider authority in managing special autonomy funds (otsus) directly to district and city governments in Papua.
Head of the Regional Planning and Development Agency (Bappeda) of Papua Province, Yohanis Walilo, stated that previously 80 percent of the authority for managing Papua’s special autonomy funds was at the provincial government level, now more will be returned to districts and cities.
With the changes to Law Number 2 of 2021 and PP 106 and 107 of 2021, of course there will be improvements made. One of them concerns financial management which is now directly transferred from the center to the provinces and districts/cities.
He assessed that the implementation of the new policy will be effective in 2023. Meanwhile, in 2022, the focus will be on the transition phase.
“We want to see later together between the provinces and regencies/cities, if it is good and successful, then it will work together”
Yohanis said that from the experience of special autonomy for the past 20 years, all components can remind each other about programs that the government must focus on in the future in the use of funds.
Bappeda Papua hopes that districts and cities can make the best use of the special autonomy funds, which starting next year will be transferred directly by the central government according to their respective portions. Furthermore, details of their use should also be provided.
According to Yohanis, the Papuan Provincial Government will draw up a development master plan for the next 20 years so that the use of Papua’s special autonomy funds can be utilized optimally.
