The Chairperson of the Papuan House of Representatives Criticizes the Provincial Government Still in Arrears of IDR 300 M . XX 2021 PON Debt

The chairman of the Papuan DPR, Jhony Banua Rouw, admitted that he was surprised by the arrears of the 2021 PON XX Papua debt of Rp. 300 billion. Even though he said the PON budget had been budgeted in the Papuan APBD until 2021, amounting to Rp. 2.4 trillion.

"The question is why the budget for PON financing is Rp 300 billion again. I don't want to be responsible for this process," said Jhony Banua to reporters when met in his office, Tuesday (18/10/2022).

He emphasized that the 2021 Papua PON XX funding had been budgeted in the Papuan APBD of Rp 2.4 trillion until 2021. Even during a meeting with the Head of the Papua Finance Agency, it was also conveyed that everything had been paid and there were no more debts.

"We have agreed on the obligations of the Papua Provincial Government, 100 percent of the APBD funds in which there are Special Autonomy funds to finance PON," he said. However, according to Jhony, Papuan legislators from the Democratic faction continue to press for the payment of the Rp 300 billion PON debt. Whereas in the 2021 Basic Budget, it has been previously agreed that all PON costs must be completed.

"Friends of the Papuan DPR members have asked that the debt to the PON, which is quite large, of approximately Rp. 300 billion, be paid immediately in this ABT (additional budget). Where does the money come from, even though in the 2021 main budget we agree that all PON costs must be completed," he said.

Head of the Papua Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) Yohanes Walilo, who was trying to confirm by detikcom regarding the Papua PON financing debt, his cellphone number was in an inactive condition. Meanwhile, the chairman of KONI Papua Kenius Kogoya, who was confirmed separately, did not respond. WhatsApp messages sent to him were also read only.

SOURCE: https://time.online/2022/10/19/11869/