JAWA POS AWARDS INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACROSS EAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SURABAYA 000056 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID ECON ID SUBJECT: JAWA POS AWARDS INNOVATION IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACROSS EAST JAVA REF: 07 SURABAYA 89 (VOTERS IGNORE ENDORSEMENTS; POLITICIANS IGNORE PERFORMANCE RANKINGS) SURABAYA 00000056 001.2 OF 002 This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Media giant Jawa Pos Group's Pro Otonomi Institute (JPIP) presented its annual awards April 30 to regencies and cities throughout East Java which demonstrated innovation across public service sectors. Perennial winners Lamongan and Sidoarjo, famous for employing business techniques in government programs, were shut out of this year's awards. This year's winners represented a new breed of "entrepreneur regents," politicians who learned from their business counterparts how to innovate and produce results. JPIP noted that winning regents were joined by "entrepreneur bureaucrats," local government officials who were emerging as influential agents of change. While JPIP's rankings have proven to be reliable indicators of electoral success in the past, public service innovations did not translate into voter loyalty in one winning regency. A list of winners follows. End Summary. Gala Event to Present Awards -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At an April 30 gala event, attended by Vice President Yusuf Kalla and East Java Governor Imam Utomo, Jawa Pos Group's Pro Otonomi Institute (JPIP) presented its annual awards to regencies and cities throughout East Java. The event was broadcast live on JTV. In its annual survey, JPIP compares the public service programs of 38 East Java regencies and cities and ranks them according to an intricate formula on innovation, impact, and results across ten categories. In its award ceremony, JPIP recognizes the most innovative programs in all ten categories and two special categories (poverty reduction and environmental management). Three grand prize awards are given for breakthroughs in economic development, public service, and political performance. Since its inception seven years ago, JPIP's awards have sparked intense competition between regencies and served as indicators of public satisfaction. Encouraging Innovation and Regional Autonomy -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Jawa Pos CEO Dahlan Iskan explained that the objective of JPIP's research is to encourage innovation in government sectors. By highlighting the effectiveness of innovation and local government initiative, JPIP hopes to encourage greater public participation in political life. JPIP's emphasis on regency-level programs is also designed to shift the mindset of local residents away from dependence on Jakarta and toward local governments to address local priorities. JPIP intends to expand its work beyond East Java with similar rankings and awards in Central Java, South Sulawesi, and East Kalimantan. Expected Winners Shut Out -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The 2008 awards surprised many observers, who anticipated another round of victories for the regents of Lamongan and Sidoarjo. Lamongan was nominated in eight categories, but failed to bring home one trophy. Sidoarjo, perhaps battered by perceptions that the regency had failed to address sufficiently the impact of the mudflow on local residents and businesses, was nominated in just one category. Maksum (one name only),Director of JPIP, explained to ConGen Surabaya that while the regents of Lamongan and Sidoarjo maintained their high level of public service programs, they had become "stagnant." Other regencies, learning from Lamongan's and Sidoarjo's example, had stepped up their game and achieved significant breakthroughs over the past year. ¶5. (SBU) Maksum added that previous winners had been regents who brought business backgrounds and principles to government service. This year's winning regents are politicians who have business mindsets -- "entrepreneur regents." These politicians learned from their businessmen colleagues and adopted many of the same techniques. JPIP sees significant progress across the political spectrum, as more regents look to innovative business solutions to make public service programs successful. JPIP added that winning regents were supported by "entrepreneur bureaucrats" -- heads of local government offices who have become critical agents for change. Winning Doesn't Mean Reelection -------------- SURABAYA 00000056 002.2 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) If winning or high JPIP rankings translated into electoral success, the victories by Pamekasan Regency for "Breakthroughs in Public Service" were the most unexpected of the evening. Achmad Syafii, the regent who created the winning program in education and two additional programs nominated for other awards, had been defeated in a March 2008 regency election. Maksum suggested that Pamekasan voters (as with many voters on the conservative island of Madura) were guided by their religious leaders to reject Achmad Syafii in favor of Kiai Kholilurahman, chairman of the Pamekasan NU. He surmised that, unlike voters in mainland East Java who have ignored endorsements by religious and party leaders to reject poor performers (reftel),Madurese voters would follow the guidance of their clerics before other considerations. A Pamekasan NGO representative added that Achmad Syafii's innovative programs may have been overshadowed by a lack of transparency and failure to lobby the grassroots successfully. The Winners -------------- ¶7. (U) On May 5, Jawa Pos launched a series of articles highlighting the innovative programs which won JPIP's 2008 Pro Otonomi Awards. Post will continue to monitor the long-term impact of these programs. Grand Prize: Breakthrough in Economic Development -- Ponorogo Regency A program to aggressively develop small and medium sized enterprises, which created 16,000 new entrepreneurs in sectors ranging from agriculture to trading. Ponorogo also instituted a mass land certificate program which allowed SMEs to use their land certificates as bank collateral. Innovative Breakthrough in Economic Growth -- Ponorogo Regency Innovative Breakthrough in Economic Distribution -- Magetan Regency Capital assistance to women in the informal business sector Innovative Breakthrough in Empowering the Local Economy -- Blitar City Protects SME and retail businesses by limiting development and construction of large shopping malls Grand Prize: Breakthrough in Public Service -- Pamekasan Regency A program to establish a transparent student examination system and a science education center. Approximately 120 students participated in the center, which is credited with helping Pamekasan students win awards at the Science Olympiad in 2007. Innovative Breakthrough in Health Services -- Pasuruan Regency Provides home care and health services Innovative Breakthrough in Education Services -- Pamekasan Regency Innovative Breakthrough in Administrative Services -- Malang City Launched reforms in permitting and licensing department Innovative Breakthrough in Providing Public Facilities -- Tulungagung Regency Provides clean water facilities Grand Prize: Breakthrough in Political Performance -- Lumajang Regency A program to increase public participation in regency's micro credit program and integrated healthcare system (targeting maternal and child healthcare) Innovative Breakthrough in Public Accountability -- Jombang Regency Conducted public survey Innovative Breakthrough in Public Participation -- Lumajang Regency Innovative Breakthrough in Political Institutions -- Batu City Succeeded in strengthening democratic systems at the village level Special categories: Poverty Reduction -- Jember Regency Succeeded with its integrated poverty reduction program Environmental Management -- Surabaya City Succeeded with garbage management and extension of green areas MCCLELLAND