Serang Regent Reallocates Official Residence Budget to Uninhabitable Housing and Village Ambulances

The Regent of Serang, Ratu Rachmatuzakiyah, has redirected official facilities attached to her position as regional head, such as the official residence and official vehicles, for the benefit of the community, specifically for the uninhabitable houses (rutilahu) programme and village ambulance assistance.

The Head of the General Division of the Serang Regency Regional Secretariat, Fariz Ruhiyatullah, stated that since assuming office, Ratu Rachmatuzakiyah has chosen not to utilise the official residence facilities or any of their associated costs.

“She does not use the official residence facilities, does not use the maintenance budget for the official residence, does not use the equipment and supplies of the official residence, and does not utilise the utility costs such as electricity, water, and telephone,” Fariz said recently.

Fariz explained that a similar policy applies to official vehicles. Regent Ratu does not use official vehicles or the funding attached to such facilities.

“Official vehicles are also not used, including the maintenance costs and the associated expenses such as vehicle tax,” he added.

According to Fariz, the budgets from these various official facilities have been reallocated to programmes that directly address community needs.

“The budget from various official facilities has been redirected to the rutilahu programme and village ambulance assistance,” he explained.

Fariz noted that this step serves as a form of budget efficiency, reinforcing the Serang Regent’s commitment to focusing the Regional Budget (APBD) on public interests. This policy is considered aligned with the development direction of Serang Regency, which prioritises community welfare through more effective and targeted budget utilisation.

By not utilising official residence or vehicle facilities, the Serang Regency Government has greater fiscal space to strengthen social programmes and basic public services, particularly regarding access to decent housing and healthcare in villages.