Culture Becomes a Priority Sector in Yogyakarta's Special Allocation Fund

As a special region, Yogyakarta receives special autonomy funds (danais) from the state budget (APBN). This is in accordance with Article 42 of Law Number 13 of 2012 concerning the Special Autonomy of the Special Region of Yogyakarta. In practice, danais are used for various activities, such as infrastructure development, education, health, and cultural preservation. This danais has been running for almost 12 years.

According to data from the Yogyakarta Provincial Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), the province received provisional danais of Rp1.42 trillion in 2024.

The danais received by the Yogyakarta Provincial Government has been constant at Rp1.32 trillion during 2020-2022. Then the amount increased to Rp1.42 trillion during 2023-2024.

Of the total provisional allocation of danais in 2024, 75.37% or Rp1.07 trillion was allocated to the culture sector.

This is the highest compared to other sectors, including spatial planning at Rp266.57 billion; institutional at Rp47.65 billion; and land at Rp35.39 billion in 2024.

However, the proportion of danais allocation in the culture sector has been fluctuating in recent years. In 2020, danais for culture was allocated at 56.36% or Rp744 billion. The proportion then increased to 57.24% or Rp755.59 billion in 2021, and then to 71.79% or Rp946.5 billion in 2022.

These funds can be used by all regions in Yogyakarta. One example is the Bantul Regency Cultural Office, which has developed the cultural sector in its region through various programs and facilitated cultural arts activities in the community.

One of the activities carried out is a cultural festival in Imogiri District which took place on November 8-9, 2023. This event showcased various arts and cultures, and socialized cultural preservation to the residents.

“So, culture is not just art, but all existing cultural objects must be managed, through initiatives and also cultural villages,” said the Head of the Bantul Cultural Office, Nugroho Eko Setyanto, in his statement, as reported by Antaranews, Wednesday (8/11/2024).

In addition to danais, the development of Bantul's culture is also supported by external parties such as the Cultural Heritage Area Management Agency formed by the Yogyakarta DIY Cultural Office.

Danais in the cultural sector is also utilized by the Gunungkidul Regency Government. In February 2023, the local government developed the Gunung Sewu area, which has abundant natural and cultural tourism potential.

This was done with the procurement of school buses and the development of green open spaces (RTH) in the Gunung Sewu Karst Strategic Unit Area, Gunungkidul Cultural Park, Yogyakarta.

The Deputy Governor of Yogyakarta, KGPAA Paku Alam X, said that the construction of the RTH Gateway of the Gunung Sewu Karst Strategic Space Unit is a manifestation of the government's commitment to maintaining environmental sustainability.

“Tourism development must certainly be accompanied by environmental preservation,” he said when signing the Icon Inscription Marking Special Autonomy in Yogyakarta, as reported from its official website, Monday (13/2/2024).