Jakarta DPRD: Prioritize Outlying Areas, Not Just City Center, Amid Budget Limits

Jakarta's Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) has cautioned the provincial government against neglecting the development of the city's outskirts while focusing solely on the city center. Lawmakers stress that limited fiscal resources in the 2027 Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) should not impede projects addressing the basic needs of the community.

Chair of Commission D of the DPRD DKI Jakarta, Yuke Yurike, stated that fiscal limitations necessitate clear prioritization, particularly in basic infrastructure such as local roads, water channels, sidewalks, pedestrian bridges, and flood control. "Indeed, with the existing fiscal limitations, the Bina Marga Agency and the Water Resources Agency must truly prioritize programs that have the greatest impact on the community," Yurike said after discussions on the General Policy of the APBD and the Provisional Budget Ceiling Priority (KUA-PPAS) in Jakarta on Friday.

Yurike highlighted that the KUA-PPAS discussion is a crucial stage for ensuring budget allocations are directed toward the most pressing needs. She emphasized that public aspirations gathered by DPRD members during recess periods should serve as a primary reference for determining next year's development programs. As a representative from the South Jakarta electoral district, Yurike noted that most resident complaints still relate to damaged local roads, drainage systems, and other basic infrastructure under the purview of the Bina Marga and Water Resources agencies.

Consequently, Commission D has requested that regional agencies openly disclose any budget limitations preventing the fulfillment of public proposals. This transparency will enable the DPRD to explore solutions through discussions in the Budget Agency (Banggar). Yurike also pointed out that the budget allocation for Sub-agencies (Sudin) in the 2027 APBD has decreased compared to 2026, which is concerning given the high demand for road repairs, drainage improvements, and basic infrastructure maintenance across Jakarta.