Govt to boost funds for primary needs
Govt to boost funds for primary needs
Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The current government has plans increase funds for a total of 66 ministries and agencies next year, particularly those providing services for "primary needs" -- namely security and order, education, settlements, infrastructure and health.
In a state-of-the-nation address on Monday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri unveiled her 2005 state budget draft, which contains the government's expenditures of Rp 264 trillion, higher than this year's allocation of Rp 255.3 trillion.
"Some of them (ministries and agencies) will have a relatively larger budget ceiling to finance operational and non-operational activities," Megawati said before a plenary session at the House of Representatives.
The raise, albeit relatively insignificant when inflation is taken into account, provides a glimmer of hope that the government has started to focus more attention on providing better basic public services.
The defense ministry, education ministry, settlements and infrastructure ministry, the National Police and the health ministry will all receive more money in 2005 if the draft is passed, because of their "strategic nature".
Approximately Rp 22 trillion has been allocated for the Ministry of Defense in 2005, which represents a 2.8 percent increase over this year.
Megawati said the raise was "essential to maintain territorial integrity as well as the sovereignty of the country, and to provide compensation for families of those soldiers who have been killed or have become permanently disabled in the line of duty."
For education, the ministry will get 12 percent more in its budget to Rp 21.5 trillion. Among the priorities, was a greater commitment to implementing the nine-year compulsory education program, a higher education program, improving the quality of education and educational personnel.
The Ministry of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure would receive Rp 12.4 trillion, a 3.3 percent increase. The draft focused on building and maintenance of roads, bridges and irrigation canals as well as a program of flood control and coastal security.
To enhance nationwide security, Rp 11.2 trillion has been included in the new draft for the National Police, almost a 6 percent hike from 2004.
The budget will not only be allocated for programs to improve police facilities and equipment, but also for compensation to those who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.
"The Ministry of Health will receive an allocation of approximately Rp 7.4 trillion, or an increase of 10.4 percent compared to year 2004. It will be used to enhance the people's health, to prevent and eradicate diseases and improve people's nutrition," Megawati said.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court would get a gigantic increase in its budget -- from Rp 154.9 billion in 2004 to Rp 1.1 trillion, a ten-fold increase.
No specific reason was given for that staggering increase.
Elsewhere, starting in 2005, as mandated by Law No. 17/2003 on state finance, the state budget will adopt a new budgetary system called an integrated, or unified system, which merges routine and development expenditures, into one expenditure format.
The combination of routine expenditures -- specifically salaries and goods expenditures -- with development expenditures is expected to reduce overlapping allocations.