East Java gives priority to strategic projects

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The East Java legislative council has endorsed its 2002 budget, giving priority to public service and several strategic development projects in order to spur economic growth in the province.

Of the province's budget, totaling Rp 2.4 trillion for the 2002 fiscal year, Rp 1.33 trillion was allocated for development projects, and the remaining Rp 1.07 trillion will go towards routine spending.

In the development budget, the larger part was allocated to finance a number of projects which urgently need to be completed next year to support general development program infrastructure throughout the province, said government officials.

Governor Imam Utomo said in the provincial legislature's plenary session that the administration would make the Surabaya- Madura bridge project, the road enhancement project in the province's southern part and the agribusiness terminal project in Sidoardjo a priority.

The provincial government also earmarked Rp 60 billion to appropriate land for a bridge project both in Surabaya, and Bangkalan, Madura Island. The construction project would be financed by the central government through foreign loans.

The provincial administration has also budgeted Rp 20 billion to free 60 hectares of land in Sidoarjo for the planned development of an agribusiness terminal, and Rp 50 billion for road enhancement in Pacitan, Trenggalek and Ponorogo, in the less developed region of the province.

"Many domestic and foreign investors have been reluctant to invest in the region because of the poor condition of roads connecting the three regencies," he said, although "they have a great of potential in the mining sector,"

In addition, Imam said the provincial government would give another priority to an improvement of public service in the health, education and security sectors.

"An improvement in the public service has been urgent, as a small part of our 34 million people are still living in poor conditions," he said.

The plenary session went smoothly as the five major factions of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Indonesian democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Indonesian Military/National Police and Golkar Party and the joint faction gave their approval of the draft law as submitted by the governor by the end of November 2001.

During the week-long deliberation of the budget bill, all factions emphasized the importance of improving public welfare, especially in the areas of education and health.

Tamat Anshori Ismail of the joint faction said the administration must be able to use the routine spending in its budget effectively to do so.

"In line with the regional autonomy, a majority of local people who are still living in a poor condition must gain a proportional attention from the government," he said.

Sutadji of the PDI Perjuangan faction, said transparency in the name of public goodwill is essential.

"Our faction will ask the governor to unveil his accountability on how the projects are handled to win the local people's confidence in the government and the legislative council," he said.