Sumarsono began his duties on Friday as Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama went on leave to campaign for reelection.

"With good partnership with the council in the duration of my duties, Insya Allah [God willing] the city budget will be finalized on Dec 30 at the latest," he said in his remarks.

Following a hearing, Sumarsono noted with concern that city budget planning had often lagged in the past, adding that he would maintain close coordination between relevant bodies to promote smooth deliberation.

He stressed the importance of maintaining the city working plan (RKPD) as the parameters of discussion. "As long as the [deliberations] are in line with the RKPD, we keep it moving forward," Sumarsono told reporters.

Jakarta Development Planning Board (Bappeda) head Tuty Kusumawati, whom has been entrusted by Ahok in the deliberation of the city budget while he's away, said the administration had submitted earlier its improvements to the budget to include strategic programs not realized in 2016.

"Examples of the strategic programs include several low-cost apartments that failed to be auctioned and must be budgeted again, as well as school renovations," Tuty said.

The city administration submitted in June a draft budget amounting to Rp 68.6 trillion for 2017, up from the Rp 67.1 trillion proposed in 2016. (bbn)

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