Subdistricts, districts to get more authority
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The city administration named on Thursday 50 subdistricts and 10 districts that will be granted more authority to manage funds for various activities in their respective territories.
A city official in charge of the pilot project told The Jakarta Post on Thursday that the appointed districts and subdistricts were currently being asked to prepare action plans for the program.
"Each subdistrict may have its own priorities, depending on their respective circumstances," said the official, who requested anonymity.
The criteria for appointing the subdistricts and districts included the availability of office facilities, the performance of local officials, the availability of human resources and the educational backgrounds of the officials.
According to pilot project guidelines, there are five sectors that designated districts and subdistricts will have to deal with -- public services, public order, community health, environment and office affairs.
In the public services sector, appointed territories will be authorized to issue birth certificates and identity cards as well as to register non-governmental organizations.
In the public order sector, appointed territories will be authorized to deal with local drug abuse issues, street vendors, illegal banners, illegal residents and sex workers.
In the sector of community health, districts and subdistricts are authorized to buy equipment for mosquito fogging, to coordinate the improvement of infants' nutrition, as well as improve sanitation facilities.
Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo said recently that each appointed subdistrict and district would be authorized to manage Rp 1 billion (US$109,000) for their respective activities.
The pilot project is part of the city's "priority programs" financed by the city's 2005 budget. Other priority programs include the construction of the East Flood Canal, busway corridors, and school buildings.
The City Council approved Jakarta's 2005 budget of Rp 14 trillion last Jan. 6.
"The pilot project is a follow-up to a series of workshops on public services attended by deputy heads and heads of districts and subdistricts from all over the city," Fauzi said.
The public service workshops, organized between July and November last year, were aimed at providing officials with modern knowledge concerning public services.
According to Fauzi, the Jakarta administration had tried to make Jakarta a service city, and the improvement of public services in districts and subdistricts was very urgent.
"We cannot say Jakarta is a service city if districts and subdistricts are not managed by officials who understand modern public services," he said.
Districts joining the pilot project
1. Central Jakarta
- Gambir
- Menteng
2. West Jakarta
- Tambora
- Kali Deres
3. North Jakarta
- Tanjung Priok
- Penjaringan
4. South Jakarta
- Setiabudi
- Kebayoran Lama
5. East Jakarta
- Kramat Jati
- Cakung
Subdistricts joining pilot project
1. Central Jakarta
- Cempaka Putih Timur
- Gambir
- Sumur Batu
- Menteng
- Gondang Dia
- Gunung Sahari Selatan
- Pasar Baru
- Kebon Kacang
- Mangga Dua Selatan
- Petamburan
2. North Jakarta
- Rorotan
- Semper Timur
- Kelapa Gading Barat
- Lagoa
- Rawa Badak Selatan
- Pedemangan Barat
- Kapuk Muara
- Pluit
- Sunter Jaya
- Tanjung Priok
3. West Jakarta
- Duri Kosambi
- Kedaung Kali Angke
- Cengkareng Timur
- Grogol
- Jelambar
- Semanan
- Duri Kepa
- Kembangan Utara
- Krendang
- Kapuk
4. South Jakarta
- Cilandak Barat
- Cipete Utara
- Petogogan
- Kebayoran Lama Utara
- Pasar Minggu
- Ulujami
- Bukit Duri
- Cipulir
- Pela Mampang
- Bintaro
5. East Jakarta
- Pondok Bambu
- Rawa Bunga
- Cipinang Muara
- Makasar
- Halim Perdana Kusuma
- Pisangan Baru
- Pisangan Timur
- Kampung Melayu
- Cawang