Manggarai Barat transfers fall 17,21 percent in 2026

Labuan Bajo — Manggarai Barat’s central-government transfers will fall 17,21 percent to Rp839.869.273.000 (about US$49.9 million) in 2026, compared with Rp1.076.361.278.000 (about US$64.0 million) in 2025, according to Floresa and Detik. The reduction applies to the 2026 budget allocation.

The 2026 allocation is down by about Rp177 billion from the previous year, the reports say. The transfer figure was cited in Manggarai Barat’s proposed 2026 budget documents and attributed to the district government and local legislators.

The reduction affects several transfer components. The planned general allocation fund was reported at more than Rp505 billion, while physical special allocation funding was planned at more than Rp2 billion, down 95,77 percent from 2025. Non-physical special allocation funding was planned at more than Rp201 billion, and village funds at more than Rp127 billion.

Floresa reported that Acting Regional Secretary Pius Baut said about 60–70% of the district’s regional budget still comes from central-government funding. He said the reduction had hindered development programmes and required the district to rationalise spending after receiving notice of the lower transfer allocation.

Why it matters to readers

Manggarai Barat contains Labuan Bajo, the main gateway for travel to Komodo National Park. A smaller transfer allocation can affect the district’s ability to finance infrastructure and public programmes connected to communities, roads and services in the wider destination area.

Floresa linked the funding reduction to stalled local projects. It reported that the Wae Impor bridge project between Kuwus and Kuwus Barat had stopped, while the Hita–Bari hot-mix road had reached Kampung Nangka, about seven kilometres from its intended endpoint. The road project was initially budgeted at Rp14 billion (about US$831,000) but received Rp7 billion (about US$416,000), the report said.

The district’s central-government transfer had been Rp1.083.107.243.145 (about US$64.4 million) in 2024 before falling to Rp1.076.361.278.000 (about US$64.0 million) in 2025, according to Floresa. Detik separately reported the 2026 reduction and said it was presented in the proposed regional budget submitted to the Manggarai Barat Regional House of Representatives.

Floresa reported that Pius Baut made the comments to the outlet on 14 October 2026. The reports do not state a further implementation date or a separate next step beyond the district’s budget rationalisation.

Sources

• Floresa — investigative report
• Detik — regional news report
• nasional.kontan.co.id
• infomabar.manggaraibaratkab.go.id
• rri.co.id