Bantul Regency Focuses on Essential Governance During Geopolitical Challenges

RRI.CO.ID, Bantul - The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has strained regional budgets, prompting local administrations to prioritize strategies that safeguard public welfare.

Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih said the most urgent step is to focus on mandatory and basic sectors, particularly education and health. “Education must continue. Education services must not stop. Likewise, health services, from community health centers to hospitals, must continue operating. The quality of both must not be reduced,” he said on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

Halim also stressed the importance of infrastructure development, noting that public mobility and daily activities depend heavily on the condition of roads, bridges, embankments, and irrigation systems. “We must continue to build roads. There must be no potholes. We must repair bridges. The construction of embankments and irrigation is a priority,” he said.

He added that maintaining peace and order in the community is equally vital. “Activities to maintain peace and order must not be reduced due to fiscal pressure,” Halim said.

The Regent further highlighted the social impact of geopolitical tensions, particularly on Bantul’s crafts sector. “Due to the war, Bantul’s craft exports have declined. The Jogja International Furniture & Craft Fair Indonesia (JIFFINA), which is usually bustling with buyers from Europe and America, saw fewer visitors this year. We are concerned about employees who have been laid off, and this is causing social problems,” he said.

To address these challenges, Halim instructed all Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) to understand the current situation and concentrate on mandatory and basic sectors. He emphasized that this approach would help ensure the continuity of livelihoods during the conflict.

“In this emergency situation, I ask everyone to uphold this policy so that, God willing, we will get through these difficult days safely and securely,” Halim said. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)