Yance Wenda, Sentani, Jubi – Member of the Customary Working Group of the Papuan People's Council (MRP) Edison Tanati criticized development in Papua which focused more on infrastructure development without preparing human resources.
The construction of many schools and community health centers is considered useless because Papua still lacks teachers and health workers. This was stated by Edison Tanati in a question and answer session for Technical Guidance for MRP leaders and members which took place in Sentani on Friday, February 4, 2022.
According to him, without the people who are ready to run services in the various public facilities built, education and health services in Papua will not improve. "We're talking about infrastructure without the readiness of human resources, what's the point? The government announced the number of schools and health centers built in the village. But then, who teaches there? Who are the doctor and nurse?" Tanati said.
"A lot of what I see in various areas, physical development comes first without being accompanied by the readiness of human resources. For example, in Keerom Regency there is a community health center building where cows enter and live in it," he said.
He further criticized the changes in the governance of the Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus) Fund following the promulgation of Law No. 2/2021 on the Second Amendment to Law No. 21/2001 or Otsus Law. The change reduces the ability of the Papua Provincial Government to exercise special autonomy.
"The regulations for the distribution of the Papua Otsus Fund have changed, even though Otsus is not about the program but the Papuan people in each regency and city," said Tanati.Now the disbursement of the Papua Special Autonomy Fund for city and regency administrations will depend on their program proposals approved by the central government. "Now cities and regencies must propose programs first, then the Special Autonomy Fund will be disbursed. It's no longer the Special Autonomy Fund, it's the same with the Special Allocation Fund or the General Allocation Fund," Tanati added.
Meanwhile, secretary of Papua Regional Development Agency Adolof Kambuaya claimed the change in the Otsus Fund disbursement mechanism was oriented towards improving education and health services in Papua. "There are already indicators for the Otsus Fund to be distributed between one regency and another. And the purpose is in accordance with the Special Autonomy Law, which is intended to build education, health, infrastructure, and economic empowerment," said Kambuaya.