Regional Head Retreat Agenda Increases Spirit of Serving the Community

Jakarta – The Regional Heads who have been inaugurated by President Prabowo, attended a briefing (retreat) on February 21-28, 2025. The briefing was held in Lembah Tidar, Military Academy (Akmil), Magelang, Central Java.

The regional head retreat is not specifically regulated in Law Number 23 of 2014 concerning Regional Government. However, the law regulates the authority of regional heads in managing regional government, including in terms of regional financial management.

Spokesperson for the Presidential Communications Office Ujang Komaruddin said that the purpose of the briefing (retreat) for Regional Heads was to form a service mentality. It is hoped that with this activity, regional heads will be closer to the reality of the community they lead.

“Regional Heads are not served,” said Ujang.

Ujang said that the mechanism for the Regional Head retreat is not only carried out through lectures. But also carried out through group discussions between regional heads.

“This allows participants to exchange views and develop strategies in their respective regions,” said Ujang.

In this retreat, regional heads are divided into groups to discuss specific challenges in their regions. In addition, regional policies are formulated based on national policies.

“There is also a policy simulation conducted to test the capacity of strategies to strengthen cross-regional coordination,” said Ujang.

The retreat materials include inclusive leadership character development. In this retreat, regional heads live in tents.

“They live without aides, follow a strict schedule and wash their own clothes,” said Ujang.

After this retreat, regional heads are expected to immediately provide public services to the community.

“Regional heads are equipped with an understanding to be more pro-people. With a focus on education, health and the local economy,” said Ujang.

After this retreat, budget management is also expected to be more efficient. This retreat ensures that the IDR 300 trillion APBD is used on target.

“The use of the APBD without waste for school development, health services and public infrastructure,” said Ujang.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto said that regional heads are required to attend a retreat or briefing because not all regional heads understand the principles of clean and professional governance. In fact, this is very crucial because the regional government will participate in the management of the APBD which is worth Rp 1,300 trillion.

“Our APBN is Rp 3,600 trillion, our APBD, the amount of money in circulation, is around Rp 1,300 trillion. It must be managed well, the principles of clean and professional governance. Not all regional heads understand that either,” said Bima Arya.

The KPK, Chief of Police, Attorney General, BPK, and BPKP will also provide briefings to ensure that the newly inaugurated regional heads understand the principles of clean and professional governance.

“That’s why there is the KPK speaking, the Chief of Police, Attorney General, BPK, BPKP, so that the Rp 3,600 trillion of people’s money must be returned to the people,” said Bima Arya.

President Prabowo Subianto is confirmed to only attend the closing ceremony of the retreat or briefing for regional heads at the Military Academy (Akmil), Magelang, Central Java, on February 28, 2025.