Irman I. Pangeran 25 June 2014 – 19:31 pm

COMMUNITY Aceh Transparency (MaTA) assesses that the management of funds sourced from the extractive resource sector in North Aceh has not yet led to poverty alleviation efforts.

“Even though it received DBH SDA Migas (revenue sharing from oil and gas natural resources) with a greater amount than other municipal districts, the poverty rate in North Aceh is high compared to the national average,” said Hafidh Polem from MaTA

Hafidh revealed that to ATJEHPOSTcom on the sidelines of the Seminar and Workshop on Transparency in the Use of Extractive Revenues, at the Lido Graha Hotel, Lhokseumawe, Wednesday, June 25, 2014.

According to Hafidh, North Aceh received the most Oil and Gas DBH in Aceh Province because it was the producer of the Oil and Gas Working Area (WK) operated by ExxonMobil.

“DBH SDA Migas obtained by North Aceh in 2012 amounted to 96.7 billion (in accordance with Regulation of the Minister of Finance No. 8 / PMK.07 / 2012), while other municipal districts ranged from 5 billion (in 2012) and 8.2 billion (years) 2013), except Aceh Tamiang, “he said.

On the other hand, the results of judicial monitoring in 2012 conducted by MaTA, placed North Aceh as the district with the highest level of regional financial leakage compared to other urban districts in Aceh. The total state loss is estimated at Rp220.5 billion.

“This condition is another challenge that must be faced by the Government of North Aceh in utilizing extractive sector revenues in a transparent and accountable manner, for the prosperity and welfare of the people,” he said.

The workshop of MaTA and Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia was opened by North Aceh Deputy Regent Muhammad Jamil. Participants in this activity included the heads of the North Aceh Regency Working Unit (SKPK), the Regional Poverty Reduction Coordinating Team, NGOs, and journalists.
In the workshop with the theme “Utilization of income sourced from extractive industries for poverty reduction; urgency and reality in North Aceh “, MaTA presented the guest speaker, namely Ir. Zulkifli Yusuf, MTP (Head of North Aceh Bappeda), Hamdan (Aceh Information Commission), and Dr. Islahuddin, M.Ec (Academician of FE UNSYIAH).

According to Hafidh, the activity was to unite stakeholders’ perceptions in an effort to accelerate poverty alleviation; there is a mutual understanding in encouraging the use of income derived from extractive activities to accelerate poverty alleviation; and the birth of an understanding to encourage public information disclosure in North Aceh.

The seminar and workshop finally gave birth to eight recommendation points for the North Aceh Government.

Following these recommendations:
1. The Government of North Aceh developed a master plan for the management of regional revenue for poverty alleviation.
2. The birth of local regulations governing the management of revenue and use of APBK for poverty alleviation programs.
3. Immediately form a regional inflation control team (TPID) to reduce the inability of people’s purchasing power.
4. Need to increase the capacity of the community in encouraging transparency in the extractive sector.
5. Future poverty reduction programs and activities focus more on developing the agriculture and fisheries sector.
6. Increase efforts by the Government of North Aceh to utilize CSR management of companies in North Aceh.
7. Institutional strengthening of TKPK especially about providing data.
8. Encourage private involvement through job creation and business opportunities in poverty alleviation efforts.

Source: atjehpost.com