DPRD Asks DKI Culture Office To Spend A Budget For Cultural Arts Activities, Not Just For Employee Salaries

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of Commission E DPRD DKI Jakarta Anggara Wicitra Sastroamidjojo criticized the Accountability Statement (LKPJ) Report on the Use of the 2020 APBD at the DKI Cultural Office.

Anggara asked DKI Disbud to spend a budget to facilitate cultural arts activities. This is because, in its LKPJ, the budget realization of Rp. 135.8 billion is too focused on paying salaries to employee benefits.

"These are all necessary for the continuity of these cultural arts activities," said Anggara at the Commission E meeting with the DKI Disbud, Wednesday, April 21.

Anggara admitted that in pandemic conditions, the government was trying to avoid public activities that could potentially cause crowds. However, he encouraged the Department of Culture to facilitate facilities and infrastructure for arts and culture activities according to the implementation of health protocols (prokes).

This is because the sustainability of cultural arts activities is the benchmark for the performance of the Cultural Service. Moreover, in the current micro PPKM application, cultural arts activities have been allowed to operate with 23 percent of visitor capacity.

"The Department of Culture needs to find the best solution for the phenomenon of slowing down in cultural arts activities to date. Because it has become a note that we are facing a pandemic, and cultural actors are very, very affected," said Anggara.

Responding to this, Head of the DKI Jakarta Cultural Service Iwan Henry Wardhana admitted that his party had not yet realized the budget for cultural arts actors amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, DKI Disbud has endeavored to facilitate the needs of cultural arts actors with a variety of alternative performance solutions.

"Of course it can be anticipated or not, our answer is to anticipate by providing facilities or solutions for art workers in virtual form," said Iwan.