West Java officials urge better budget planning and forestry infrastructure

Regional leaders in West Java are calling for improved synchronization in development planning and infrastructure investment to address economic challenges.

Herman Suryatman, the West Java Provincial Secretary, instructed the heads of Regional Development Planning Agencies (Bappeda) across 27 regencies and cities to ensure that development policies and sectoral problem-solving align with actual community needs. He emphasized that provincial achievements are an aggregate of all local government successes, urging Bappeda to act as guardians of the regional budget (APBD) to ensure planning documents are translated into effective budget priorities. With approximately three and a half years remaining in the current development cycle, Suryatman stressed the importance of early evaluation to meet 2029 macro indicators.

Simultaneously, the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) is pushing for infrastructure improvements within social forestry areas. Deputy Speaker Ono Surono noted that limited infrastructure in these zones negatively impacts agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of local residents. Surono highlighted that poverty remains a significant issue in areas surrounding forests and plantations, urging the provincial government to take responsibility alongside the central government to support communities dependent on these forest management programs.