Despite Costing IDR 22 Billion, State Secretariat Says Regional Head Retreat Will Continue

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The State Secretariat considers the orientation program for regional heads, which can cost at least Rp 22 billion from the regional budget, to be very important to continue despite the government's efforts to streamline the budget. This is because the program is a strategic one. The duration of the briefing activities has also been reduced from 14 days to 7 days as a result of budget efficiency measures.

In the virtual world, a circular letter from the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) regarding the planned retreat for 505 regional heads resulting from the 2024 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) to be inaugurated on February 20th has been circulating. According to the letter, the briefing activities could consume regional budgets of at least Rp 22 billion. The large expenditure is considered contradictory amid President Prabowo Subianto's instructions to streamline state spending.

Deputy Minister of State Secretariat, Juri Ardiantoro, when met after a working meeting with Commission XIII of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (13/2/2025), said that all programs considered strategic and important would continue to run. Therefore, even though the budget spent is quite large and the government is actively pursuing budget efficiency, the orientation program for regional heads is still needed.

"Yes, including not just the retreat. All program activities that are considered strategic and important will continue. The retreat is part of an important program," said Juri.

So, of course, there are details or needs, not just retreats, but everything that is considered not very beneficial, not productive, will certainly be made more efficient.

The jury revealed that the budget for this orientation program comes from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) within the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri). "Regarding the amount of the budget, please confirm with the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said.

According to Juri, everything has been taken into account. This includes the duration of the implementation, which was initially proposed to be 14 days but has been reduced to 7 days. This reduction in duration is claimed to be a result of budget rationalization.

Not only that, to optimize the budget, the orientation agenda for regional heads, which is usually conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), is now combined.

"So, of course there are details or needs, not just retreats, yes, but everything that is considered not very useful, not productive, must be made more efficient," said Juri.

He also did not mind if the public continued to criticize it. "Yes, everything is criticized, that's normal," he said.

In the circular letter of the Minister of Home Affairs, it is stated that the cost of the activity is shared (cost sharing) between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the regional government. The Ministry of Home Affairs pays the cost of organizing the activity. The cost of accommodation, food, transportation, and equipment that must be brought during the briefing is paid by the regional head and deputy regional head.

The cost value that must be borne by the regional head according to the circular is Rp 2,750,000 per day. If multiplied by 8 days, the total cost that must be spent during the retreat at Akmil, Magelang is Rp 22 million per person.

Thus, with the number of regional heads participating amounting to 505 people from 505 regions, the cost incurred is around IDR 11.1 billion. However, if deputy regional heads are instructed to participate in the retreat, it means that the minimum cost to be borne by the regional budget is around IDR 22.2 billion. The amount spent could be even greater because the regional heads and their deputies have the potential to bring their aides and teams to participate in the activity.

When confirmed regarding the truth of the circular, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Bima Arya Sugiarto has not responded until this news was published. Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Ministry of Home Affairs Information Center Aang Witarsa was reluctant to answer questions about the letter. He only said that the retreat activities would still be discussed at the Ministry of Home Affairs.