In a press conference after a limited cabinet meeting a total of Rp16.8 trillion could be set aside through economization in the 2011 budget use upon an agreement from the House of Representatives (DPR).
"We have conducted economization efforts and Rp16.8 trillion could be made based upon Instruction Number 7 of 2011, the use of which could later be discussed with the DPR," he said.
Since 2010 President Yudhoyono had voiced the need for efficiency and economization. It was later put in the Presidential Instruction No.7 of 2011 stating economization of budget use minimally 10 percent through reduction of overhead costs.
"The Instruction must be implemented with concrete actions. Spending for official trips, workshops and seminars has to be reduced. Other steps could be taken such as limiting procurement of office cars or selecting cheaper makes, using funds according to targets," he said.
President Yudhoyono also called for controlling construction of buildings for offices, official residence in the central as well as local regions. "Unless they are urgently needed they must not be built as I have often found in regions", he said.
President Yudhoyono hoped the DPR would share his view to allocate the funds for emergency in anticipation of fluctuations in the world price of food and energy.
"We hope the DPR shares the government`s view with regard to the efficiency efforts and the Rp16.8 trillion collected from the efforts for poverty alleviation program and an emergency fund to deal with fluctuations in the world price of food and energy. We have to have a contingency budget which we can be used in case prices of food and energy are rising," he said.
On the occasion President Yudhoyono said with regard to efficiency all ministers and heads of government offices and institutions must study thoroughly plans to build offices to assure they are really based upon the needs.
"The government has rules from public works ministry and home affairs ministry regarding standards of office building," he said.
President Yudhoyono called for postponement or cancellation of construction of buildings or other facilities which do not match with standards of appropriateness or the regulations.
According to him there are nine building construction plans worth more than Rp100 billion for 2011 and one of them is the disputed DPR building project.
"I know their urgency but under the spirits of efficiency and optimization, please see if economization could be done so that more funds could be allocated for health programs and poverty alleviation," he said.
(T.P008/H-YH/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
