East Java gives priority to strategic projects<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
The East Java legislative council has endorsed its 2002 budget,
\ngiving priority to public service and several strategic
\ndevelopment projects in order to spur economic growth in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Of the province's budget, totaling Rp 2.4 trillion for the
\n2002 fiscal year, Rp 1.33 trillion was allocated for development
\nprojects, and the remaining Rp 1.07 trillion will go towards
\nroutine spending.<\/p>\n
In the development budget, the larger part was allocated to
\nfinance a number of projects which urgently need to be completed
\nnext year to support general development program infrastructure
\nthroughout the province, said government officials.<\/p>\n
Governor Imam Utomo said in the provincial legislature's
\nplenary session that the administration would make the Surabaya-
\nMadura bridge project, the road enhancement project in the
\nprovince's southern part and the agribusiness terminal project in
\nSidoardjo a priority.<\/p>\n
The provincial government also earmarked Rp 60 billion to
\nappropriate land for a bridge project both in Surabaya, and
\nBangkalan, Madura Island. The construction project would be
\nfinanced by the central government through foreign loans.<\/p>\n
The provincial administration has also budgeted Rp 20 billion
\nto free 60 hectares of land in Sidoarjo for the planned
\ndevelopment of an agribusiness terminal, and Rp 50 billion for
\nroad enhancement in Pacitan, Trenggalek and Ponorogo, in the less
\ndeveloped region of the province.<\/p>\n
\"Many domestic and foreign investors have been reluctant to
\ninvest in the region because of the poor condition of roads
\nconnecting the three regencies,\" he said, although \"they have a
\ngreat of potential in the mining sector,\"<\/p>\n
In addition, Imam said the provincial government would give
\nanother priority to an improvement of public service in the
\nhealth, education and security sectors.<\/p>\n
\"An improvement in the public service has been urgent, as a
\nsmall part of our 34 million people are still living in poor
\nconditions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The plenary session went smoothly as the five major factions
\nof the National Awakening Party (PKB), Indonesian democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Indonesian Military\/National
\nPolice and Golkar Party and the joint faction gave their approval
\nof the draft law as submitted by the governor by the end of
\nNovember 2001.<\/p>\n
During the week-long deliberation of the budget bill, all
\nfactions emphasized the importance of improving public welfare,
\nespecially in the areas of education and health.<\/p>\n
Tamat Anshori Ismail of the joint faction said the
\nadministration must be able to use the routine spending in its
\nbudget effectively to do so.<\/p>\n
\"In line with the regional autonomy, a majority of local
\npeople who are still living in a poor condition must gain a
\nproportional attention from the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutadji of the PDI Perjuangan faction, said transparency in
\nthe name of public goodwill is essential.<\/p>\n
\"Our faction will ask the governor to unveil his
\naccountability on how the projects are handled to win the local
\npeople's confidence in the government and the legislative
\ncouncil,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-java-gives-priority-to-strategic-projects-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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