Semarang Mayor Targets Completion of RT Operational Assistance Regulation within Three Weeks

Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng is targeting the completion of the Mayoral Regulation (Perwal) on Operational Assistance (BOP) for RT units, valued at Rp25 million per unit, within the next three weeks. This step comes amid discussions by the Special Committee of the Semarang City DPRD regarding the allocation of Rp265.7 billion for RT BOP. Behind this acceleration of the regulation, the Semarang City Government emphasises that the benefits of the RT BOP programme have already been felt by the community since its first year of implementation. The programme not only records high budget absorption but also delivers real impacts at the neighbourhood level. “We want to ensure that these funds are truly felt by the residents, not just administratively. And in fact, those benefits are already there,” said Agustina at the Semarang City Hall on Friday, 17 April 2026. Data from the Semarang City Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Agency records several concrete impacts throughout 2025. These include improvements in posyandu service quality, revitalisation of gotong royong activities, and support for environmental cleanliness programmes such as waste sorting and small-scale water channel maintenance. An RT head in the Ngaliyan area, Sutriyoso, revealed that the BOP funds have enabled residents to be more active in cleanliness activities and environmental improvements. Wahab Sya’roni echoed this, stating that posyandu activities are now running more routinely and organised. The programme’s absorption rate of 95.6% serves as a strong indicator that the funds are needed and utilised by the community. Of the total 10,621 RTs, 10,157 have utilised BOP, while the remainder have not claimed it due to internal reasons. In response to criticism from the DPRD Special Committee regarding macro indicators such as reductions in stunting or dengue fever cases, the Semarang City Government assesses that such impacts require time. However, the foundation for change is already visible through increased community participation, environmental cleanliness, and social activities at the RT level. “Macro benefits cannot be instantaneous, but the momentum for change is already evident. Posyandus are more active, environments are cleaner, and gotong royong is alive again,” Agustina explained. The Perwal currently being drafted is not intended to alter the programme’s direction but to refine the flexibility of fund usage, including the possibility of allocation for light infrastructure needs such as environmental drainage repairs. With high absorption achievements, positive community responses, and the government’s commitment to perfecting the regulation, the RT BOP programme in Semarang is regarded as a social investment that is beginning to show real results at the grassroots level.