DPRD hopes fiscal constraints will not hinder development in Jakarta

The Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) hopes that the fiscal constraints of the DKI Jakarta Regional Budget (APBD) for the 2027 fiscal year will not become an obstacle to development in the city. Chair of Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, Yuke Yurike, stated on Saturday that the fiscal limitations must be addressed by establishing a scale of priorities for programmes that provide direct benefits to the community. “Indeed, with the existing fiscal constraints, the Highways Agency and the Water Resources Agency must truly prioritise the programmes that have the most impact on the community,” Yuke said following the discussion on the General Budget Policy and Provisional Budget Ceiling Priorities (KUA-PPAS) on Friday (24/7). During the discussion, the Highways Agency and the Water Resources Agency (SDA) presented several priority programmes directly related to community needs, such as pavement improvements, the construction and maintenance of pedestrian bridges (JPO), and flood control as a key focus of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. According to the DPRD member from the South Jakarta electoral district, the majority of residents’ complaints relate to the condition of local roads, drainage channels, and basic infrastructure under the authority of the two agencies. “Commission D requests that regional apparatuses openly communicate if there are budget constraints causing community proposals to be unaccommodated. That way, the DPRD can discuss possible budget adjustments in the Budget Committee (Banggar) deliberations,” she said. The three-term council member revealed that the budget allocation for sub-department units (Sudin) has decreased compared to the 2026 fiscal year. This situation is a concern for Commission D given the high demand for handling local roads and drainage channels across various areas of Jakarta. Yuke requested that budget calculations be carried out carefully, considering the area size, the number of community complaints, and the urgency of issues on the ground. “We remind you not to prioritise only major roads or central city areas. Local roads, drainage, lighting, and basic infrastructure in peripheral areas must also receive attention because their benefits are directly felt by the community,” she explained. Officials from the Highways Agency, the Water Resources Agency, and the Assistant for Development of the Regional Secretariat have confirmed that programme planning is based on community needs. However, Commission D will scrutinise the details more thoroughly during the Regional Budget (RAPBD) discussions down to the programme and activity level. “What we are discussing now is still at the KUA-PPAS stage. Later, during the RAPBD discussions, we will delve deeper into the programme and budgeting details before they are discussed in the Budget Committee,” she said. Amidst budget limitations, Yuke invited all parties to understand the fiscal conditions currently faced by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government. Nevertheless, she believes Jakarta still has the capacity to continue building and serving the needs of its citizens. “With a significant budget reduction, there will certainly be an impact; but we should be grateful that Jakarta can still build, still survive, and continue to serve the community’s needs. Residents’ aspirations must still be fought for. However, we must also work together to find solutions according to the available budget capacity,” she said.