Bupati Menjerit PAD Menipis, Benarkah Otonomi Daerah Dipreteli?

Summary

The regent of Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan, discusses regional autonomy and the challenges faced due to reduced authority from the central government. The regent highlights issues such as difficulties in issuing permits, securing funds, and managing a large area with limited resources. There is a focus on increasing local revenue (PAD) through investments and CSR contributions from mining, plantations, and forestry sectors. The regent also emphasizes the need for more local control over resource management and improved communication with investors for better community impact.

Takeaways

• 😀 The current Regent is in his second term, and regional autonomy is a key concern for local leaders, especially regarding the central government's control over regional authorities.
• 😀 Many regional authorities have been stripped away by the central government, and local leaders are hoping to regain control over these powers to benefit their regions.
• 😀 In Kapuas Regency, the central government still controls key aspects like permit issuance and grant fund distribution, requiring significant lobbying to access these resources.
• 😀 Kapuas Regency has a large area (17,000 km²) and a small budget (3.3 trillion), which makes it challenging to develop the entire district, especially remote interior regions.
• 😀 The region's PAD (local revenue) is only 224 billion, which is significantly lower than the ideal 20% of the APBD (regional budget), highlighting a struggle for financial autonomy.
• 😀 Local governments are trying to boost their PAD by collaborating with investors in sectors like plantations, mining, and forestry, especially in remote areas.
• 😀 There is a hope to return authority over certain sectors, like C-type mining, to local governments, as it currently lies with the central government.
• 😀 The CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) mechanism is seen as inefficient, with companies' contributions often not benefiting the community as expected, and local governments seek more transparent communication with investors.
• 😀 There are efforts to strengthen CSR collaboration by offering tax exemptions and incentives like free BPKB name changes for heavy equipment to increase local revenue.
• 😀 Local governments are pushing for more control over natural resource industries such as mining and plantations, as current policies make it difficult to access the revenue from these industries due to central government control.

Q & A

What is the current situation regarding regional autonomy as mentioned by the Regent?

The Regent mentioned that many regional authorities have been stripped away by the central government. The hope is to restore these authorities over time to allow for better local governance.

What specific authority has the central government reduced, according to the Regent?

The central government has reduced regional authorities, especially in issuing permits and managing grant funds. Regional governments now have to lobby the central government for fund disbursement.

How does the size and demographics of Kapuas Regency affect its budget and development efforts?

Kapuas Regency covers an area of approximately 17,000 km², which is significantly larger than many areas in Java. Its scattered population and diverse geographic challenges make it difficult to manage development projects, especially with a regional budget of only 3.3 trillion IDR.

What is the difference between Kapuas Regency's regional budget (APBD) and its local revenue (PAD)?

Kapuas Regency's regional budget (APBD) is 3.3 trillion IDR, while the local revenue (PAD) is only 224 billion IDR. This stark difference makes it difficult to fund development, particularly in remote areas.

What steps is the Regent taking to find new sources of local revenue (PAD)?

The Regent has been in talks with investors regarding the potential contributions from CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) in sectors like plantations, mining, and forestry. They hope these sectors can help boost PAD, particularly in areas that the regional budget cannot reach.

How does the Regent view the current state of CSR implementation by companies in the region?

The Regent acknowledged that many companies' CSR activities are often ceremonial and not felt by the community. The government hopes to improve the mechanism by ensuring more effective collaboration and transparency in CSR efforts.

What is the current challenge with regard to heavy equipment registration in the region?

The challenge lies in the fact that heavy equipment in the mining, plantation, and forestry sectors still uses non-KH plates. The local government hopes to change this to KHB plates, which could help generate additional PAD.

What is the Regent’s hope regarding the central government and the allocation of resources?

The Regent hopes that the central government will ease the process for local governments to access resources and funding. They also wish for more authority to manage resources like mining and plantations directly, without relying on central government approval.

How does the central government's control over mining and plantation sectors affect local development?

The central government's control over the mining and plantation sectors means that the local government has limited communication and authority over investors and resources. This hampers the ability of the local government to directly benefit from these sectors.

What role does APKASI play in the Regent’s efforts to restore regional autonomy?

APKASI (Association of Indonesian Regency Governments) is a platform where regional leaders, like the Regent, can voice their concerns and advocate for more local autonomy. The Regent hopes that through APKASI, these issues will be addressed at the central government level.