Govt Allocates Rp78.82 Bln For Enpowerment Program In Padang

Padang, W Sumatra, March 22 (Antara) - The central government and the city administration of Padang, West Sumatra, have allocated Rp78.82 billion for the National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM Mandiri) since 2006. "The funds came from the local and state budgets," Deputy Mayor of Padang Mahyeldi Ansyarullah said here on Friday. The local government allocated Rp14.8 billion of PNPM funds for environmental-related facilities such as 182-km long road in Padang and nine-km-long drainage system. "Furthermore, the funds have also been used to build a 2.9-km-long irrigation system, 242 houses, 142 bathrooms, and 117 latrines," he said. Ansyarullah said a number of people, 73 percent of them are the poor, have found jobs thanks to this program. "The program has managed to collect community funds amounting Rp2.8 billion and reduced 50 percent of the poverty rate in Padang," he said. He said the PNPM Mandiri program is the government`s endeavor to build community self-reliance and local governments to reduce poverty in a sustainable manner. He added, the program has been a driving force to accelerate the development in Padang. Ansyarullah hoped the program`s funds to be audited for the sake of clean and good governance which emphasizes on transparency and accountability.