"We will carry out the efficiency instruction. One of the ways it can be used is by reducing the budget for expenditures related to meetings of civil servants (PNS)," Purnama, who is better known as Ahok, stated at the City Hall on Tuesday.
He added that the expenditure deduction, which is expected to save more budget funds, will be carried out from 2015.
"Based on our calculations, we can save up to Rp2.3 trillion by cutting down on meeting honorarium of civil servants," the governor affirmed.
By saving Rp2.3 trillion, the Jakarta government could finance the development of various sectors that would, in turn, improve the welfare of the people.
"The budget cut from the honorarium of PNS meetings could be diverted to financing programs ideated by the Jakarta regional government that would be more beneficial to the people," Ahok noted.
He, however, did not explain by how much the honorarium would be reduced for each meeting.
On Monday (November 24), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) announced that he will cut official travel and meeting expenditures by Rp16 trillion in the fiscal year of 2015.
"Meeting and travel expenditures amount to Rp41 trillion. I have ordered that it be brought down to Rp25 trillion. Our travel and meeting expenditures have reached only Rp22 trillion so far. So an allocation of Rp25 trillion will be enough for the purpose," he told newsmen on the sidelines of a meeting with provincial governors at the Presidential Palace here on Monday.
He added that the Rp16 trillion saved can be used for development projects.
The president also noted that he will study the 2015 budget to look for allocations that are considered inefficient and divert them to fund infrastructure development programs.
He explained that provincial governors from across the country were gathered to seek their inputs, as well as to synchronize all central and regional development programs.
Jokowi further revealed that he also discussed the 2015 budget and the development programs to be implemented during the year.
"We discussed the 2015 programs as they will be started early in the year. We have also asked ministers to be mindful of budget allocations that are not efficient," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
