The funds are projected to reach Rp6 trillion (over US$368 million) this year.
"So far, efficiency has been understood as budget cuts. In West Java, efficiency means shifting unnecessary spending to essential expenditures," he said after his inauguration in Jakarta on Thursday.
Mulyadi emphasized that budget efficiency will not come at the expense of public services. His administration will only cut unproductive activities, such as overseas travel, comparative studies, and seminars.
He pointed out unreasonable budget allocations, such as Rp730 billion for school telecommunications equipment, compared to just Rp60 billion for building new classrooms.
Other savings were achieved by eliminating the governor's uniform budget, cutting overseas visit expenses, and reducing the budget for official travel.
As part of cost-saving measures, Mulyadi has opted to use a private car instead of the governor's official vehicle.
One month before his inauguration, he and the West Java government transition team managed to reallocate Rp5.5 trillion of the budget, a figure projected to increase to Rp6 trillion.
The budget will be used for priority projects, including the construction of 3,333 new high school classrooms in West Java, new schools, and land acquisition for school construction over the next two years.
Meanwhile, the road infrastructure budget has been significantly increased from Rp600 billion to Rp2.4 trillion.
"Investment cannot grow if infrastructure is inadequate," he emphasized.
In the energy sector, the governor has increased the budget for electricity connections for the poor from Rp20 billion to Rp350 billion, as nearly 200,000 West Java residents still lack access to electricity.
He has also allocated Rp40 million–Rp60 million per unit for renovating homes of impoverished residents.
In the health sector, the West Java provincial government will build new hospitals and health centers, provide 200 ambulances in remote areas, and complete the development of medical facilities while increasing the number of medical personnel.
(US$1 = Rp16,295)
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
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