goodmorningpapua.com – The central government will give bigger authority in managing special autonomy funds (otsus) directly to district and city governments in Papua.
A Head of the Regional Planning and Development Agency (Bappeda) of Papua Province, Yohanis Walilo, stated that previously 80 percent of the authority for managing Papua’s special autonomy funds was at the provincial government level, now it will be more returned to districts and cities.
“With the amandment of Law Number 2 of 2021 and PP 106 and 107 of 2021, of course there will be improvements made. One of them is regarding financial management which is now directly transferred from the center to provinces and regencies/cities,” said Yohanis, Saturday, 11 December 2021.
He assessed that the implementation of the new policy will be effective in 2023. Meanwhile, in 2022, the focus will be on the transition phase. “We want to see later together between the provinces and regencies/cities, if it is good and successful, then it will collaborate,” he said.
Yohanis said that from the experience of special autonomy for the past 20 years, all components can remind each other about programs that the government must focus on in the future in the use of funds. Bappeda Papua hopes that districts and cities can make the best use of the special autonomy funds, which starting next year will be transferred directly by the central government in accordanec with their respective portions. “Details of its use must also be submitted,” he said.
According to Yohanis, the Papuan Provincial Government will draw up a development master plan for the next 20 years so that the use of Papua’s special autonomy funds can be utilized optimally.