The Role of the Gorontalo City DPRD in Supervising Infrastructure Development: Corrective Actions to Improve Development Quality

Abstract

Indonesia’s rapid development, particularly in democratic governance, has highlighted the importance of regional autonomy. The establishment of regional autonomy aims to empower local governments to manage their own affairs, including infrastructure development. The role of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), especially in overseeing infrastructure projects, is crucial to ensure the effective use of allocated funds. This research adopts a qualitative approach, with data collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The study focuses on the oversight function of the DPRD Gorontalo City, specifically Commission C, in managing infrastructure development funded by the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program. The findings reveal that the DPRD Commission C’s oversight function is not fully optimized. Despite regular hearings and field visits, the lack of concrete corrective actions has resulted in delayed and substandard projects. The community's pressure has been more effective than the DPRD’s oversight in ensuring project completion. Evaluations and corrective actions are often procedural, with limited follow-up, and the political influence affects the DPRD's ability to push for significant changes. The DPRD Commission C’s oversight in infrastructure development has not been fully effective, especially in ensuring projects meet targets. It is recommended that the DPRD conduct more rigorous field inspections, involve independent experts, and enforce stricter penalties for non-compliance to improve the quality of oversight and project outcomes.