JAKARTA: The House of Representative’s budget committee has approved the budget cut proposed by three coordinating minister offices as part of the government’s effort to save Rp 50 trillion (US$3.8 billion) in the revised 2016 state budget.
The Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister had proposed cutting 17 percent of its budget to Rp 414 billion, Office of the Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister cut 19.5 percent to Rp 392 billion and the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister cut 10 percent to Rp 350 billion.
“We will do our best to achieve our targets despite the budget reduction,” Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli said on Monday in Jakarta.
The office’s main programs, he continued, were related to the free-visa policy, more seaport construction as part of the government’s maritime highway program and the development of ten marine tourist destinations.
Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani said her office had spent around Rp49 million or 10.37 percent of the allocated budget as of early this month.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said he would slash official trips, seminars and operational expenditures.
