Jokowi Prepares 'E-Blusukan' to Save Trip Budget
22 September 2014 15:10 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President-elect Joko Widodo is preparing a special project in a bid to save official travel expenses. Hasto Kristiyanto, deputy for Widodo-Kalla's Transition Team, said Jokowi will integrate 330 online media to perform his famous impromptu visits—also known as blusukan—online.
"Later, through online media, we can have all information about developments in the society, their stories can be used as considerations," Hasto told Tempo last weekend.
In the 2015 State Budget Draft, the government allotted some Rp35.2 trillion for domestic travels and Rp2.78 for overseas. The total allotment is higher than the 2015 budget ceiling for Jokowi's programs, which is less than Rp25 trillion.
According to Hasto, the budget is too great and better allocated to productive sectors such as infrastructure development, irrigation, SME financing as well the fishery sector.
Meanwhile, IT observer Onno Widodo Purbo doubts that the concept of e-blusukan by integrating 330 online media tools can save the government travel budgets. He said the program "has no correlation" with the state budget.
He said the more effective way to cut travel budgets by using Internet technology is to hold online meetings between by utilizing Skype, mailing lists, or other social networking tools.
FAIZ NASHRILLAH | DEVY ERNIS
