Home Affairs Minister Urges Regional Governments to Seize National Priority Programmes
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian has urged regional governments (pemda) and heads of regions across North Sulawesi Province (Sulut) to seize the central government’s flagship programmes.
“Only one of the President’s programmes, namely housing, can provide numerous benefits to leaders and policymakers, including governors and regents/mayors,” the Minister stated in a press release received in Jakarta on Friday.
He made these remarks during the Deliberation on Development Planning (Musrenbang) for the Regional Government Work Plan (RKPD) of North Sulawesi Province for 2027.
According to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, North Sulawesi Province has moderate fiscal capacity. This means the region’s financial condition, in terms of local own-source revenue (PAD) and transfers to regions (TKD), is relatively balanced.
Therefore, the region needs to optimise the implementation of central government programmes, as they are deemed to provide direct benefits to the community.
He mentioned other programmes that regional governments should utilise, including food security, Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Red and White Village/Urban Ward Cooperatives, People’s Schools, and Garuda Elite Schools.
Additionally, other programmes include school rehabilitation, free health checks, fishing villages and national fishing ports, as well as other flagship initiatives.
The Minister explained that utilising these flagship programmes not only benefits the people but also serves as a form of creativity in increasing PAD.
He gave an example of how regional governments can support the implementation of the three million houses programme in their areas. This can be done by facilitating permitting through the provision of public service malls (MPP) in each region. With such permitting ease, the private sector will be encouraged, thereby contributing to increased PAD through regional levies and taxes.
“This public service mall is a one-stop system. All public services are there. It’s a good idea for making permits quick as well,” he said.
Attendees at the event included Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus, officials from the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of North Sulawesi Province, regents/mayors across Sulut, and other relevant parties.