Solok regency role model for public services

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang

For Maifendri, 36, applying for his children's birth certificates at the Solok administration office in West Sumatra was a breeze.

He had to wait for just 10 minutes at the counter of the One- Door-Public-Service-Plus office on Thursday, after submitting three forms, each enclosing the required documents, consisting of a birth document from the midwife, a copy each of his marriage certificate and identity card, and Rp 12,000 (US$1.20).

The procedure was quick because he submitted an application that satisfied all the requirements. Data from the form was recorded in the civil registration book by the clerk and data for the birth certificate was entered into the computer, and then it was printed out.

Only 10 minutes of waiting and Maifendri's name was called out to approach the counter. "Arranging for a birth certificate here is fast and cheap, as long as you submit all the documents required," said Maifendri, a resident of Saning Bakar village in X Koto district, near Singkarak lake.

He is eager to assist his wife -- a midwife at the auxiliary community health center in Saning Bakar, some 40 kilometers from the Solok administration office -- in arranging for her patients to get certificates for their newborns, due to the speedy and cheap services provided by the office.

However, Maifendri said that sometimes the procedure could last a week if there was a long queue of applicants.

Since the commencement of the One-Door-Public-Service-Plus post in 1996 by Solok regent Gamawan Fauzi -- now governor of West Sumatra -- the public has enjoyed better service.

According to head of the office Arfeni, even though the office offers 25 kinds of services, such as issuing building permits, advertising licenses and the leasing of state assets, the issuance of birth certificates is the service most in demand.

"An average of 10 people apply for a birth certificate a day," said Arfeni.

The ease of arranging birth certificates is not only of benefit to residents of the regency, but also to neighboring Padang city residents. The office has issued 6,000 birth certificates in the period of January to August.

"Many people from Padang have arranged for birth certificates here as they are valid throughout the country and they can be arranged from anywhere in Indonesia as long as they meet the prerequisites," said Arfeni.

Head of the Solok regency administrative department Emildolia Khaira said the public had welcomed the service since its introduction in 1996.

Before the establishment of the one-door service, which was established with the aim of reducing red tape, people who needed to arrange for licenses and certificates would have to go to a number of different offices.

Information is available to the public in books and brochures on the procedures, fees and processing times of the services rendered.

For example, if a businessperson wishes to apply for a business license (SIUP) by investing over Rp 500 million, he only has to pay Rp 200,000 and the license will be arranged in five days. It will also take five days, and a fee of Rp 250,000 to arrange for an industrial permit with an investment of over Rp 750 million.

Licenses and certificates can also be applied for through postal services if an individual has no time to come to the office.

Despite the good services rendered by the office, some flaws are noticeable.

Emildolia said the office was not linked to other agencies in the administrative office as it had no access to the internet, and space was limited as well as manpower.

"If there are a lot of applicants, we usually work into the night to provide the services we have promised," she said.

The office measures five-by-five meters, with a waiting room that seats 15 people. It is managed by three staff attending to the counter and a cashier.