MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Acting Secretary of the North Sumatra Provincial Government, Timur Tumanggor, has emphasized the importance of ensuring that the Regional Budget (APBD) is used in a targeted manner. Budget allocations must be directed toward priority programs that deliver tangible benefits to the public.
Timur said the regional government must ensure that every rupiah allocated through the APBD has a clear purpose, supports development targets, and provides concrete benefits to the public. Budget management must also prioritize the principles of effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
He made the statement while opening the 14th webinar in the 2026 series, themed "Smart APBD: Effective Spending, Maximum Impact," on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the Provincial Secretary's Meeting Room at the North Sumatra Governor's Office, Jalan Pangeran Diponegoro No. 30, Medan.
The webinar, organized online by the North Sumatra Provincial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM), was attended by around 1,400 civil servants from the North Sumatra Provincial Government, district and city governments, as well as several vertical government agencies.
APBD Must Be Results-Oriented
In his remarks, Timur stressed that the APBD should not be viewed merely as a financial document of the regional government. In his view, the APBD is one of the most important instruments for driving development and improving public welfare.
Therefore, the government should not use the level of budget absorption alone as a measure of successful APBD management. What matters is the outcome after the funds have been spent – from output and outcome to the actual impact felt by the public.
"The APBD SMART theme reminds us that every rupiah spent must have a clear direction, support development priorities, be used effectively and efficiently, and be accountable. We need to change our mindset: from asking how much of the budget has been absorbed to asking what results and benefits we have achieved," he said.
Timur said regional governments must optimize the use of the APBD through various approaches. One of them is ensuring that regional spending is closely aligned with national and regional development priorities.
In this way, government programs and activities can address the needs of the public while also supporting established development targets. Regional governments must also avoid planning programs merely according to long-standing routines without considering the current needs of the public.
In addition to aligning spending with development priorities, Timur urged regional authorities to strengthen data- and evidence-based planning and budgeting. Every decision regarding the allocation of budget resources must be guided by the concrete problems faced by the public.
A data-based approach is expected to help the government more accurately determine which programs require financial support. The goal is for the budget not only to be absorbed according to predetermined targets but also to generate measurable benefits.
COMMITMENT TO CIVIL SERVANT COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT: Head of the North Sumatra Provincial BPSDM Agustinus Panjaitan explains the agency's commitment to improving civil servant competencies through continuous training and capacity development. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
Efficiency as Part of the Work Culture
Timur also called on all regional agencies to make efficiency an integral part of their work culture. In his view, every agency must review its various expenditures and identify spending that does not provide optimal additional value.
Available resources, Timur continued, must be concentrated on programs that offer greater benefits to the public. This is particularly important as development needs across regional governments continue to increase while available budget resources must be managed carefully.
In addition to efficiency, early oversight also plays an important role in ensuring that the APBD is implemented according to its objectives. Timur emphasized that the government's internal supervisory apparatus (APIP) should not only be responsible for identifying errors after a program has begun.
APIP must also assist the government in preventing various risks, controlling potential inefficiencies, and improving the quality of governance. Strengthening oversight at an early stage is intended to prevent problems during program implementation while ensuring that budget resources remain within the prescribed framework.
Timur also urged webinar participants not to view the event merely as a ceremonial obligation. He encouraged civil servants to follow the presentations attentively, actively participate in discussions, and apply the knowledge gained to improve their respective areas of work.
"I hope this event does not stop at being a ceremonial activity. Follow the presentations carefully, make use of the discussion sessions, and apply the knowledge you gain to make concrete improvements in your respective workplaces," he said.
APBD MANAGEMENT BASED ON DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES: Acting Secretary of the North Sumatra Provincial Government Timur Tumanggor emphasizes the importance of managing the APBD based on priorities, data, efficiency, and oversight to deliver concrete benefits to the public. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
BPSDM Promotes Civil Servant Competency Development
Head of the North Sumatra Provincial BPSDM, Agustinus Panjaitan, said around 1,400 participants had taken part in the webinar. He said North Sumatra BPSDM continues to provide opportunities for civil servants to improve their competencies and adapt their skills to organizational needs and developments over time.
Agustinus emphasized that improving civil servant competencies is no longer merely a matter of fulfilling administrative obligations. The government needs civil servants who understand change, can analyze problems, and are capable of making decisions that contribute to achieving organizational objectives.
Therefore, human resource development must be carried out continuously. Civil servants need to regularly update their knowledge and skills to meet organizational requirements and address the various challenges involved in carrying out government functions.
Agustinus explained that the webinar was specifically aimed at improving civil servants' competencies and understanding in developing work programs that directly benefit the public. The event was also intended to strengthen participants' ability to analyze budget resources.
In his view, budget analysis skills are crucial so that the government does not merely pursue the highest possible level of budget absorption. Every budget allocation must create additional value and contribute to achieving regional development objectives.
The webinar also provided civil servants with an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how to prepare budget plans based on regional priorities and the actual needs of the public. This approach is expected to ensure that program planning is more closely tailored to conditions on the ground.
Furthermore, the event promoted a culture of openness in providing information on every stage of APBD implementation. Transparency is an important element in strengthening public trust while improving accountability in the management of regional finances.
Agustinus expressed hope that the material delivered during the webinar would contribute to changes in the working practices of civil servants. Knowledge about the APBD should not remain at the theoretical level but should be practically applied in program development, priority setting, and budget allocation within each institution.
"Through this webinar, we aim not only to strengthen the learning culture among civil servants but also to ensure that every rupiah spent can be legally and administratively accounted for, and that the APBD serves as a smart and sustainable driver of the regional economy," he concluded. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala