JAKARTA (September 25, 2019) - The Ministry of Social Affairs along with the regional government (Pemda) strengthen synergies to improve social welfare services to the community.

"Collaboration and synergy between the central government and regional governments, between institutions, between the government and the community is the key of development," said Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in his direction delivered by Inspector General Dadang Iskandar when opening the 2020 Program and Budget Planning Coordination Meeting in Jakarta. Jakarta, Wednesday.

The Inspector General said that amid the global economic turmoil, the government had succeeded in reducing the poverty rate from 11.22% in March 2015, to 9.41% in March 2019, the lowest in the history of the Republic of Indonesia.

Income inequality continues to decline, as indicated by the lower Gini Ratio from 0.408 in March 2015, to 0.382 in March 2019.

"This achievement, of course, should not make us complacent, but it can be an incentive to continue to provide the best service to the community until the welfare of the community is realized," he said.

On this occasion also to the ranks of local governments throughout Indonesia who were present at the Coordination Meeting, Ali Taher, Chairman of Commission VIII who was also present, emphasized that every citizen must be able to enjoy the results of development, no one is left behind in the national development carriage.

"In accordance with the President's directives, the use of the APBN must be focused and on target and ensure that every rupiah from the APBN has economic benefits, provides benefits for the people and improves people's welfare," he said.

He hopes that this meeting can increase the commitment and synergy between the Center and the Regions in planning programs and budgets for the implementation of professional social welfare.

"So that in the end it will increase the level of people's welfare as mandated by the 1945 Constitution," he said.

The Inspector General added that in 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs has a strategic position in achieving national development goals. The Ministry of Social Affairs is included in the group of Ministries with large budgets where 92% of the budget is social assistance.

This, he continued, means that there is great hope and trust in the Ministry of Social Affairs to be able to have a major impact on improving the social welfare of the community.

"This hope and trust must be followed by our commitment and efforts to build good governance so that service professionalism continues to increase," he said.

Thus the purpose of service, namely public satisfaction and optimal performance on the social welfare of the community can be achieved properly.

"This certainly starts from a good planning process, which ensures that every activity is designed to support the achievement of national development targets," he said.

As additional information, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Planning Bureau held a 2020 Program and Budget Planning Coordination Meeting, 24-27 September in Jakarta.

This activity was opened by the Inspector General and attended by the Chairman of Commission VIII DPR RI Ali Taher, as well as echelon 1 and echelon 2 officials within the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Ali Taher in his speech emphasized that the task of the government and the DPR is for the welfare of the people.

"Our job is to turn the tears of poverty into tears of happiness," said Taher.

The meeting with the theme “Improving Central and Regional Synergy in the Framework of a More Integrated Social Welfare Implementation” was attended by all Provincial Social Offices in Indonesia, echelon II work units and planning elements within the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs.

The purpose of this activity is to increase understanding in the implementation of social welfare and to create synergy between the center and the regions in the implementation of social welfare.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W. Manalu