THE REGIONAL AUTONOMY AS AN ACCELERATION in ACHIEVING MDG IN INDONESIAN”

Presented at AT SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE
September 23-24, 2008, Ulan bataar, Mongolia

APFFD Mongolia 2008

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INDONESIA IN THE REFORM ERA

Earlier prior to the reform, the House of Representatives (DPR RI) was the only legislative institution in Indonesia. However after the third amendment to the 1945 Constitution, there was another institution that came under the name of the House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (or DPD).

This is the first time since the inception of DPD RI was established in 2004; the whole 128 representatives were elected directly by the people in the General Election 2004. Every province is therefore represented by four members regardless of the population size of the respective provinces which is totally 32 provinces for the term of membership is 5 years. The existence of DPD RI is expected to be able to bridge the interest for both central and local government as well as to strive for interests and the aspirations of the people in developing and decision making in political agenda as well as in the national development policy. Now, let me explain my views on the topic that I would like to draw entitled “THE REGIONAL AUTONOMY ENTRUSTED TO ACCELERATE IN THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS TO BE ACHIEVED BY 2015 THROUGH THE INDONESIAN DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN INDONESIA”

In its Strategic Plan of DPD RI 2004-2009, it has formulated a blue print to make sure that DPD RI as a new institution will achieve its goals, to increase the development of the regions and to strengthen our nation’s democracy, at large with the plan of actions as follows:
1. Regional Autonomy and the Balance of Power between the central and regional governments in the framework of equitable economic development and utilization of natural resources for public prosperity in the regions.
2. Realization of the right of the public in the regions to basic services in education and health
3. Realization of justice, Gender Equality and Social Guarantee for Children’s welfare
4. Protection and promotion of Traditional Rights and Local Culture.
5. Fulfilling and applying Religions Value that can provide answers to problem faced by the nation.
6. Increase the effectiveness of policies to eradicate corruption and reduce Mismanagement of Funds in the state institution.
7. Considerations and Advice to the DPR RI on the drafts State Budget
8. Oversight of the implementation of the State Budget and the State Audit.

It is followed by the already existing the Decentralization as a tool to achieve the above mentioned plan of action.

DECENTRALIZATION

I convey before the Conference of Women Parliamentarian, the DPD RI’s role is clear to actively involve in bridging between the central and regional government in order to accelerate the development for the people welfare concerned through decentralization and regional autonomy policy. The policy of decentralization and regional autonomy has been implemented since 2001, three years prior to the inception of DPD RI itself. Therefore, I would like to reiterate that decentralization is not the end, but merely a mean to achieve the end.

Nevertheless in achieving and accelerating the development of the people’s welfare in the region once should be delegated clearly the authorities within the Nationals and the regions.

DISTRIBUTION OF AUTHORITY NATIONAL AND LOCAL

However central government still intend to give such a guidance and an assistance in order to running the roles of respective local government in assigning their duties. The DPD RI always consult and observe every Heads of Region (Governors) concerned to have a serious and truly care, be responsible and determine to sustain their authorities respectively.

National Authority:

1. Foreign Policy
2. Security and Defend
3. Justice
4. National Monetary & fiscal
5. Religion

Local Authority:
1. Education;
2. Health;
3. Public Works;
4. Housing;
5. Landscaping ;
6. Development Planning;
7. Transportation;
8. Environment;
9. Lands Management;
10. Population and Civil Administration;
11. Woman Empowerment & Children Protection;
12. Family Planning & Family Welfare;
13. social;
14. Man Power and Transmigration affairs;
15. Co-operation and Small and middle enterprises;
16. Investment;
17. Culture and Tourism ;
18. Youth and Sport;
19. National Resilience and internal politics affairs ;
20. Regional autonomy, general Government, local finance administration, local government institution, local civil servant administration, & Sandi affairs;
21. Community and Village Development;
22. statistic;
23. Archive Affairs
24. Library;
25. Communication and information;
26. Agricultures and food resilience ;
27. forestry;
28. Energy and mineral resources;
29. Fishery and marine resources;
30. Trading
31. Industry.




THE IMPORTANT ROLES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

WHO ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Fortunately, with the active participation and oversee the implementation of policy by the executive level, DPD RI succeeded in advising them that for the theme of 2008 Annual Government Work Program is in relation to Goal One of MDGs as its target, entitled ‘Acceleration of economic growth to alleviate poverty and unemployment’ which based on 8 development priorities is determined, namely:
1. Improvement of investment, export and employment opportunities
2. Revitalization agriculture, fishery, forestry and rural community development
3. Acceleration of infrastructure development and energy management
4. Improvement of access and the quality of education and health
5. Improvement of poverty eradication effectiveness
6. Corruption eradication and acceleration of the bureaucracy reform proces
7. Strengthening of the defence capabilities and stabilities of internal security
8. Disaster handling and reduction of disaster risks, as well as the improvement of avian flu alleviation.
In 2000, The Millennium …..saw 189 world leaders agree to a set-time bound and measurable goals and targets relating to poverty. These were named the MDGs. Goal one of MDGs is to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. That’s only 8 years away; the time to act is now
Therefore, the 2008 state budget law is always based on the above mentioned priorities, and it would be automatically reflected funding into the achievement of MDGs program in 2015.

BEST PRACTICE CASES REGARDING MDGs

The central government budget provides high priority on poverty eradication program, including the fast improvement of the budget of Department of Education, Department of Health and Department of Religious Affairs. With the decentralization, the responsibility on education and health has been delegated to the regional government. This synchronizing politics, programs and allocation of state and regional budget has to be continuously improved to achieve a better and effective development.

From the chart shown on the screen and in achieving the target of MDGs particularly on given agenda MDG 3,4 and 5 have been minimum reached so far. Although in achieving the whole programs of IDGs as well as MDGs will be a tendency to gain a success but DPD RI still faces several problems in making the roles of respective region success in national policy making, which is clearly back up by the relevant regulations. This is because the internal problems are appeared.

Before I conclude my explanation, it is not exaggerate that various innovations implemented by the regions in creating best practices providing prime services and enhancing governments quality. Some regions have implemented e-government into their government public services, thus enhancing efficiency effectiveness and at the same time government transparency. This is the essence of good governance which is the characteristic of a modern government. Good governance must also become the characteristic of regional autonomy of Indonesia.

HYPOTHETICAL FRAME WORK TO ACHIEVE

Furthermore, in implementing policies in enhancing people welfare and infrastructure development, regional government have employed strategies of budget utilisation for correct objective and uses increasing budget allocation for the regions is intended to implement in a consistent purpose to reduce poverty.

As former UN Secretary General Kofi A Annan, message to the Fifth Asian and Pacific Population Conference in Bangkok 2002, quoted as follows:
“The MDGs particularly the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, cannot be achieved if questions of population and reproductive health are not squarely addressed, and that means stronger efforts to promote woman’s right, and greater investment in education and health, including health and family planning”.


PROBLEM

Apart from the above explanation to pinpoint that recently, income per capita is increasing annually. In 2004, income per capita reached US$ 1.186 but in 2007 it reached US$ 1.946 or an increase of 64 percent within 3 years. This figure is higher than that achieve before the 1998 economy crisis.

Meanwhile, Indonesia gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 reached IDR 3.957 Trillion. Which such a GDP, Indonesia is included in the list of 20 countries with the highest GDP. Thus, we have been freed from crisis yet there are still many challenges that we have to deal with ahead. Those achievements encourage us to step toward a glorious future, I suppose.

WHAT NEXT?

Once again the task of the DPD RI here is to encourage the relevant qualification authorities and registration bodies to co-operate and work towards a time line and process of deriving mutual acceptance of related qualifications and work experience in order to better facilitate skill exchanges which will improve regional economic prosperity, including acceleration in achieving MDGs.

Thank you for your kind attention and patience to follow this explanation.

To this end, the regional governments are obliged to provide basic services for the people, particularly in education, health and public facilities in accordance with the minimum standard of service. The education budget is annually increased. Furthermore in the budget year 2009, the government is determined to meet the 45% allocation of the state budget for education. The increase of education budget would be realized in the form of more improved and accessible quality and access to education, particularly in the primary and secondary education level.

History shows that great nations are nations which are able to develop their human resources. Human development through education and health is one of the keys elements to achieve those objectives.

Nowadays all regions, whether provinces or regencies/municipalities that have allocated additional fund for School Operational Assistant, so that students are free from all kinds of changes. DPD will act as a bridge to pursue the regional governments to follow the measures of the central government in meeting the constitutional mandate by allocating minimum 20% of their budget for education.

Furthermore, the budget for health and basic infrastructure is continuously improved to provide better quality service and access to the people, particularly in the health sector; the government prioritize basic health service in remote regions by increasing and strengthening Community Health Centre (PUSKESMAS) and integrated Services Units (POSYANDU) as well as providing incentives to doctors and paramedics assigned in those areas.

In another occasion DPD RI can provide input to the regional government while at the same time bridge the gap between the central and the regional governvoments. Thus management of authority and regional finances can truly operate well and be in synergy with the policies of the Central Government pursuant to the regulation in force and in line with the interest of the people whom DPD RI represent, It is by meant that every member of DPD RI represents the people in the regions who directly vested them the mandate to ice their interest.

Governance, Accountability and Sustainability of MDGs Related Efforts

By : Tuti Indarsih Loekman Soetrisno
Member of the House of Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, National Mandate Party.
Member of Commission IX : Health, Labor, Transmigration, Population, Food and Drug Control.

PRESENTED AT THE SIXTH ASIAN WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS AND MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE, September 23-24, 2008, ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA




Governance, Accountability and Sustainability of the MDG

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Introduction :

To face the challenges of the country’s development, in the period of 2004-2009, government of Indonesia has promoted the 3 (three) development agenda i.e :
1. To Create a Safe & Peaceful Country
2. To Create a Just & Democratic Country
3. To Improve People’s Welfare.
Agenda 3, i.e. to Improve People’s Welfare is much in line with the 8 goals of Millennium Development. And since Indonesia has signed the MDGs commitment in 2000, consequently all government development policies and programs have since then been projected to also reach the 8 goals of Millennium Development.


Indonesian Parliament

Since the amendment of Indonesian 1945 Constitution in 2002, Parliament of Indonesia is given more power to be involved together with the Government in deciding all development plans, policies and programs of the country, since the Parliament is expected to have the role to make changes, essential for fostering public participations and accountability and being a place of popular representation and an effective instrument for the creation of legislation and review of Government policy. This is implemented through routines hearings between the Government represented by its ministers with the Parliament where in Indonesia consists of 11 (eleven) Committees, each Committee is in charge to certain sector and Ministry as the following : I. International Affair, Defense, Information, II. Home Affairs, State Apparatus, III. Law, Human Rights, IV. Agriculture, Forestry, Maritime, Fisheries, V. Transport, Communication. VI. Industry, Trade, Cooperative, VII. Energy, Mineral Resources, Technology, Environment, VIII. Women Affairs, Children Protection, Religion, Social Affairs, IX. Health, Labor, Transmigration, Population, Food and Drug Control, X. Education, Tourism, XI. Finance, Banking, Development Planning.

All Government’s development plans, and policies including those to reach the Millennium Development goal as well as its budgets in each ministries are discussed and decided through the ministry meetings with the related committees.

Achievement of MDGs 3,4,5,6

In regards to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals particularly MDGs 3,4,5,6 Indonesia has reached the followings :


Goal 3 : Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women.

Target 4 : Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably
by 2025, and in all levels of educations no later than 2015.

The Indonesian government through Presidential Instruction Number 9, 2000 has laid the legal foundation for gender mainstreaming in all aspects of national development. The government has also taken strategic step to socialize gender perspective, showing her willingness to implement Gender Mainstreaming strategy, in both development program and policies as well as in Laws and regulation issued as the legal foundation for government activities.

Thanks to the gender mainstreaming strategy in all development policies and programs, in general Indonesia has made a clear progress in promoting gender equality and improvement of women in many aspects.

The main indicator is the ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary and tertiary education, where Indonesia has almost reach the target, with ratios of 99,4 % at primary school, 99,9 % in junior secondary school, 100 % in senior secondary school, and 102,5 % in tertiary education. One of the measures used by government of Indonesia to reach the target is launching the “Nine Years Compulsory Education Program” (Wajar) for every boy and girl.

The second indicator is the ratio of literate women to men, aged 15-24 years old, which Indonesia almost reach the target with a ratio of 99,9 %, thanks to the government’s “Study Group Program A,B,C” (Kejar Paket A,B,C) launched 12 years ago to eliminate illiteration in the country.

The third indicator i.e. the share of women in wage employment in all non-agricultural sectors. In a strong patriarchal culture like Indonesia, the current value is only 33 %, still away from reaching the target of 50 %.

Similar case happens in the fourth indicator i.e. the proportion seats held by women in National Parliament which at the moment only reach 11,3 %. To overcome this, the government together with the Parliament just amended the Election Law which stipulates that only political party which put at least 30 % women as their candidates for general election which are eligible to take part at the coming General Election in 2009.


Goal 4 : Reduce Child Mortality.

The main indicator is the under-five mortality rate, where the MDGs target is 32 deaths per thousand live births in 2015. At the moment Indonesia has reached 40 per 1.000 live births so it already reach the MDGs target. However the report from BPS Susenas shows that a greater share of deaths take place in the first days, weeks or months of life, that means we have to improve the health protection program for the neonatals.

The second indicator is the proportion of one-year-old children immunized against measles where the number has increased to 72 % in infants and 82 among children of 12-23 months old which still have to be increased more to reach the target. However, at present Indonesia has immunized most of the children. By 2005, 88 % against diphtheria, whooping cough and typhoid although only half of them received the full course. 82 % against TB, 72 % against Hepatitis. With the Polio outbreak incident in 2005 the government had to revitalize its immunization program especially for polio. This included public education for the parents on the importance of immunization program as prevention measure against various diseases and higher budget allocation proposed by Parliaments to ensure good vaccine supplies and distribution as well as a more organized health system.


Goal 5 : Improve Maternal Health

Target 6 : Reduce by three-quarter, between 1990 and 2005, the maternal mortality
ratio.

Maternal Mortality Ratio in Indonesia has come down from 450 per 100.000 live births in 1990 to around 307 in 2007, and should reach 110 by 2015, it means it is still far behind the target. The causes of death are delivery complications like obstructed labour and haemorrhage, where most of them are treatable or preventable if they get easy access to skilled birth attendant (doctor, midwive) especially those living in the remote areas, who are poor, undernourished and prone to anemia. Or if they get access to effective contraceptives.

To solve this problem, Parliament supports the Government (Minister of Health) program to train more midwives to be placed in every village all over Indonesia, and improve the health services of all District Hospitals and Communities Health Services especially for emergency due to delivery complications
.

Goal 6 : Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases

Target 7 : Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Even if the current prevalence is 0,1 % nationally but at present there is no indication that Indonesia is halting the spread of HIV/AIDS, since data shows that for the past 5 years there is a fast increase of numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS, where from 1987 to March 2007 there were 8.988 cases of AIDS, out of that 1.994 died, as reported by National AIDS Commission (KPA).

In most of Indonesia, infections are still concentrated among two high-risk groups; injecting drug users and sex workers. One of most critical issues is the low use of condoms, even among commercial sex workers, who are only around half use condoms. There is thus the potential for HIV to spread rapidly. According to the Ministry of Health, there would be half a million people infected by 2010, or even a million, if the government does not take effective action.

Therefore Parliament support the government effort in combating HIV/AIDS to programs through public education, youth reproductive health education, HIV test, distributing free condoms at red-lights district, and free needles to drug users. Despite the fact that Indonesia is still supported by the Global Fund in combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB, Indonesia has recently succeeded to produce its own ARV to cure HIV/AIDS and also medications to combat TB given to patients through DOTS (Directly-Observed Treatment Short-Course) program to cure 582.000 cases/year in Indonesia. Through this DOTS program, where daily doses of three or four drugs taken over six month are supervised carefully, to ensure that the patient finish the full course of the medication. Thanks to DOTS, Indonesia has already met the target of MDG which is to reverse the spread of the disease (91%). Similar case is for Malaria, when the drugs have been produced locally thus we can lower the incidents to 18,6
Million cases per year.

The Role of Women Parliamentarian

To ensure the governance, accountability, and sustainability of all the programs to meet MDGs, especially goal 3,4,5,6-the focus of the discussion in this seminars, Indonesian Parliaments and Parliamentarian through their 3 (three) function: legislation, oversight and budgeting should become the driving force for the government to fulfill all international commitment like MDGs, ICPD, Beijing Platform of Actions.

Together with the Government of Indonesia, Parliament has done the followings :

a) Amending Health Law to include Reproductive Health Right.
b) Amending Population Law.
c) Advocating the Local Parliament, since Indonesia is now entering the Regional Autonomy and Decentralization era and empowering the local government, hence the crucial role of the district government leaders to succeed the programs of achieving MDGs as well as the goals of the country development programs.
d) Improving Health Insurance Scheme for the poor.
e) To Strongly propose to the government to increase Health National Budget from 2,6 % at present to 5-6 % of the National Budget (compared to the Budget for Education which is 20 % of the National Budget).

Implementing all the above mentioned measures will ensure the government of Indonesia to reach the objective of the Agenda 3 of the Middle Term Development Agenda 2004-2009 i.e : To Improve People’s Welfare as well as achieving the targets and goals of MDGs.


Conclusion

In its serious efforts to implement gender-mainstreaming strategy, beside the
General Instruction for the implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in Regional Development, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs in a circular letter Number 132, 203 following the previous regulation on gender elation, Law No. 7, 1984 on the ratification of the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the GOI also launches Law No. 25, 2004 on National Development Planning System, especially in Chapter 12 on the quality improvement of women’s welfare and child’s protection. In the same Law, gender is also mainstreamed in thirteen other Chapters as the basis for the implementation of gender mainstreaming strategies in each aspect of development.

However there is still discrepancy between program and policies on one side and the actual practice. Women Parliaments have to make their ways to be heard for their aspirations, especially those related to women’s interest, needs and rights. In the strong patriarchal culture like Indonesia, it is still one of the obstacles for people to really willing to listen to women’s voice, even in the parliament. Men parliamentarians are outnumbered their women colleagues and from the small number of them not all are willing to be actively involved in articulating their aspiration. In Indonesia, since women are also affected by the existing gender construction, sensitivity to women’s issue is not something given for them. This goes for both women legislative member as well as the executives. Not every woman aware of women’s rights and problem and often time they are unresponsive to the need of women. Consequently they do not always willing to support others who are fighting for those rights or participate in solving the problem. Aspiration and proposal that meets the needs of women will only accepted or get through if they are supported by many and continuously and consistently articulated in the parliamentarian hearings. But since both women legislative and executive are not fully aware of the importance of the issues, they are often times ignored. There is also absolutely no guarantee that women executives (bureaucrats) always aware of women’s interest, needs, rights, and problems.

It gets worse when it comes to actual budget allocation for the planned programs. Here, there is also inconsistency between the government gender mainstreaming strategy in its development policy and program, and the actual process of planning and budgeting. Currently, local government budget in Indonesia does not have yet gender perspective. As a result, the impact does not bring equal benefit for both women and men. Hence the role of women (and men) Parliamentarian as well as the executives who are gender sensitive on fighting for gender planning and gender budget is very crucial and should be strengthened. Especially since we are already committed to fulfill the international agreement like Millennium Development Goals, International Conference of Population Development Program Actions, and Beijing Platform of Actions, as well as our own Development Agenda.


……development, if not engendered, would be endangered…
(UNDP 1996)



References :

Edriana Noerdin et al, “Decentralization as a Narrative of Opportunity for
Women in Indonesia”, Women Research Institute, Jakarta, 2007.
Peter Stalker, “Let’s Speak Out for MDGs”, Achieving the Millennium
Development Goals, Bappenas, UNDP, Jakarta, 2007.
Tuti Indarsih Loekman Soetrisno, “The Role of Parliaments in Improving
Maternal Health in Indonesia”, London, 2007.
-------- ,“Gender Sensitive Budgeting for Education and Health
Programs in Indonesia”, New York, 2008.
-------- ,“Peranan Parlemen di dalam Usaha Memperbaiki Kesehatan
Ibu di Indonesia”, Jakarta, 2008.