Minister of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Eko Putro Sandjojo said the village fund in 2019 is expected to increase by Rp75 trillion to Rp80 trillion.
"In essence, Mr. President Joko Widodo wants to raise the village's own funds, now it depends on the (village head) managers how the village fund corruption case can be suppressed," Eko said in Jakarta on Saturday (10/3/2018).
He said it had held a meeting with Finance Minister Sri Mulyani on Friday (9/10) yesterday and it seems the Finance Minister agreed with the increase of the village fund.
According to Eko, there are several reasons that make the village funds increased, one of which is the readiness of village apparatus in managing the village funds. This year, the government spent Rp60 trillion in village funds.
Eko said the increase in village funds is also not related to the 2019 presidential election. As known to President Jokowi will also go back. "This increase has nothing to do with the 2019 Presidential Election," Eko said.
He explained, the total amount of village funds that have been issued by the government since 2015 reached Rpp187 trillion.
Eko continued, currently about 80 percent of village funds for stage one is already liquid. Earlier, he said only 60 percent were already liquid, but are now increasing.
He said one of the main obstacles to the process of disbursing the village funds was the slow pace of completion of the Regional Budget (APBD) and the regent's regulation.
Thus, Eko asked the head of the region to finish the APBD and the regent's regulation because the village funds went through the APBD.
"If the APBD is between the local legislative council (DPRD) and the regent there is no agreement, then the village fund will be a victim and the construction will not be finished," said Eko.
He also said that Kemendes PDTT is assisted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to send letters to regional heads in order to immediately resolve regent and APBD regulations.
"For the supervision of the village funds, we try to find the best model, if we are too tight, the village head is afraid We have cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the police, because it is the duty to prevent misappropriation In the future, we ask for a supervision schedule to be equally work comfortably, "said Minister Eko.