The central government will transfer more than Rp1 trillion to South Papua Province in 2025; however, the amount will be reduced by around Rp150 billion. South Papua’s Deputy Governor, Paskalis Imadawa, revealed that the budget cut was the result of efficiency policies and a decree from the Ministry of Finance. Paskalis conveyed this information during a meeting with Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on April 28, 2025.
As a newly autonomous province that only recently appointed its definitive governor and deputy governor in February 2025, South Papua continues to face significant development challenges. Paskalis highlighted the limited allocation of Special Allocation Funds (DAK) for physical infrastructure, particularly for the Public Works and Housing Department. He mentioned that several construction projects, such as the South Papua People’s Assembly Office, the Governor’s Office, official residences, and apartment buildings, are currently underway with funding from the national budget (APBN).
Given the still limited Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD), Paskalis urged the central government to provide special attention to South Papua. He emphasized that South Papua should not be treated the same as older provinces, considering the urgent need for basic infrastructure in the region. Additional support is deemed crucial to accelerate development and meet the basic needs of communities in this new province.
