Governor to empower subdistrict offices

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Governor Fauzi Bowo said Sunday he would consider working at the 267 subdistrict administration offices spread around the city.

"I wouldn't hesitate to receive a guest in subdistrict offices because they're government offices too," he said during a visit to Pisangan Timur subdistrict office in East Jakarta.

He said it would allow him to be closer to the city's residents and help improve the performance of the offices.

During the meeting with residents, some asked Fauzi to promise to improve community unit facilities and increase the Family Welfare Education (PKK) budget.

"I'm asking for the governor's promise to pay attention to our operational budget," said a woman who is a member of the PKK.

Fauzi said he was concerned with the issues but could not make any promise that would realize all of their requests.

"I thank you all for delivering your requests. However, I can't promise that I will fulfill all of them, especially for those who asked for money," he said.

The governor said he would not provide more facilities to community unit offices as they belonged to the residents, not the city.

"If the city administration provides too many facilities for a community unit, I'm afraid it will suffer the same bureaucratic disease.

"On the other hand, if a neighborhood unit and a community unit can be responsible in using their operational budgets, I might reconsider increasing the budgets," he said.

"I can make a contract-based package between a subdistrict office and a neighborhood unit. A neighborhood unit will have its rights, but it must fulfill its duties -- otherwise it will be sanctioned," added Fauzi.

On Friday, Fauzi assessed the work performance of each unit in the city administration, in accordance with the 100-day work program.

He asked every unit head to sign a performance agreement that will be used to evaluate the performance of each unit.

"There will be a sanction for a unit head whose work quality is below the performance agreement.

"The performance agreement signing will push the city administration's work in five years, in accordance with good governance," he said, as quoted by the city administration's official Web site Berita Jakarta.

Commenting on ongoing infrastructure projects in the city, Fauzi said the construction of the three new busway corridors was going according to the city administration's plan.

"The building of East Flood Canal is important to mitigate possible annual flooding, however, it is a bit delayed.

"We need to coordinate with the National Land Agency about the land acquisition and land compensation," he said. (adt)