Ministry of Home Affairs urges Papua to expedite Special Autonomy Fund

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk has instructed local governments across Papua to accelerate the disbursement of the second phase of the 2026 Special Autonomy Fund (Otsus). While the 45 percent disbursement should have been completed by June, several regions had not finalized the process as of August.

During an evaluation meeting held in Jakarta, Haluk dismissed regulatory hurdles and human resource limitations as “classic excuses,” noting that the mechanisms for fund management have already been established. She emphasized that local governments must strengthen commitment and oversight to ensure timely implementation.

Data from the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance indicates that while 19 local governments in Papua have received the second phase of the funds, not all have received the full amount of the Special Autonomy Fund and the Additional Infrastructure Fund (DTI). Haluk warned that delays could negatively impact essential public services, including education, healthcare, and hospital operations.