Jakarta prioritises education sector amid fiscal challenges

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) prioritises the education, health, transport, and flood management sectors as the main priorities despite fiscal conditions expected to remain challenging in the coming budget year. ‘Although its budget is certain not to be the same as in previous years, activities related to education, health, transport, and floods remain our shared priority,’ said Suharini Eliawati, Assistant for Economy and Finance of the Jakarta Provincial Secretary, in a statement in Jakarta, on Thursday. She said the reduction in revenue-sharing funds (DBH) in 2026 is likely to continue in 2027. On the other hand, global geopolitical dynamics are also putting pressure on local expenditure needs. ‘Our DBH for 2026 indeed has a reduction. It seems that 2027 won’t be much different,’ she said. However, Suharini assured that activities relating to education, health, transport, and floods remain the priority of the Jakarta Provincial Government. Meanwhile, Commission C of the Jakarta DPRD observed a number of factors potentially affecting the region’s budget capacity, ranging from DBH reductions, own-source revenue (PAD) challenges, the weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar, to global energy crises. Therefore, Commission C calls for regional spending to remain focused on the basic needs of the people. The public service sector must be a priority in drafting the 2027 programme. ‘Fixed costs in the form of subsidies to the public must be prioritised. Including for flood management,’ said Ismail, Secretary of Commission C of the Jakarta DPRD.