"The government will always make an effort to lower the high cost of living in Papua`s hinterland by building new roads, strengthening an integrated transportation system, introducing an incentive system and applying a proper budget design," Velix WaJakarta (ANTARA News) - The government will raise the amount of general allocation funds for mountainous districts in Indonesia`s eastern-most province of Papau next year, a presidential aide said.
"The government will always make an effort to lower the high cost of living in Papua`s hinterland by building new roads, strengthening an integrated transportation system, introducing an incentive system and applying a proper budget design," Velix Wangga, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s special aide for regional development and autonomy, said here on Wednesday.
Velix said budget allocations for educational, health, and economic sectors and basic infrastructure in the districts will also be raised.
Under the 2013 state budget, special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua have been set at Rp4.3 trillion and Rp1.8 trillion respectively, he said.
"The government will also raise extra funds for development of infrastructure facilities in Papua and West Papua by Rp1 trillion each. The President wants the budget allocations to be used for activities badly needed by the local people," he said.
He noted that in the past five years both provinces have made significant progress as reflected by rising human development index, improving life expectancy rate, and declining unemployment rate.
Papua`s and West Papua`s poverty rate also declined to 31.11 percent and 28.20 percent respectively from 36 percent previously, he said.
"Although at national level the two provinces have the highest poverty rate, they have made significant progress during the past five years," he said.
Velix said in the next two years President Yudhoyono will strengthen the foundation of the Papua provincial government by consolidating special autonomy for the province.
"Special autonomy is a win-win solution agreed upon by the people of Papua and the government. Elsewhere in the world special autonomy is a solution to any conflict," he said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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