The use of Papua's Otsus funds for health and education is still minimal

During the 2002-2020 period, the Ministry of Finance noted that the distribution of Special Autonomy funds to Papua reached Rp. 93.05 trillion and West Papua Rp. 33.95 trillion.

Overall, the total autonomy funds for Papua that have been disbursed from the APBN during this period reached Rp. 126.99 trillion.

However, Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara revealed that the percentage of use of Special Autonomy funds for priority areas is still inadequate. Then, Papua has not been able to catch up with the underdevelopment of other regions as expected.

In Papua, for example, the Ministry of Finance noted that the average use of Otsus funds in the education sector was only 25.4% or still below the provisions in the Perdasus, namely 30%. Meanwhile, the average use of funds in the health sector was 18.7% or slightly above the stipulated 15%.

Likewise with West Papua, the average use of Otsus funds in the education sector is only 25.1% or relatively moderate from the stipulations in the Governor Regulation which are required to range from 20% -30%. Meanwhile, the average use of funds in the health sector was only 13%, from the provisions in the range of 10% -15%.

Regarding mandatory spending for health at least 10%, Papua Province has always complied since 2017, while West Papua has never fulfilled its obligations at all.

Suahasil explained, that is why the data shows that in general the indicators of education, health and infrastructure in the Papua region that receive Otsus funds are still worse than the district / city average with similar characteristics.