TATA LOKA
VOLUME 21 NOMOR 2, MEI 2019, 216-224
© 2019 BIRO PENERBIT PLANOLOGI UNDIP
P ISSN 0852-7458- E ISSN 2356-0266
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/tataloka.21.2.216-224
T A T A
L O K A
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE IN
DECENTRALIZED INDONESIA: CASE OF BANDUNG
MUNICIPALITY
Diny Waskitawati
1
, Ida Widianingsih
2
, Budhi Gunawan
3
Abstract: This paper discusses the effectiveness of infrastructure development for wastewater
service in decentralized Indonesia, particularly in Bandung municipality as one of the biggest
cities in the country where sanitation problems persist. Although wastewater service coverage in
Bandung municipality shows a gradual improvement from 2010 to 2016, the research identifies
the ineffectiveness of wastewater infrastructure development. Qualitative analyses revealed that
the wastewater infrastructure development in Bandung municipality funds came from two
different sources (local budget and internal donor support). We would argue that in the case of
wastewater infrastructure development, the same amount of money shares different processes and
results. Compared to AusAID water and sanitation program, in term of value of money, the one
designed and managed by the Municipality Water Supply Agency (PDAMs) is less effective. It is
concluded the newly developed decentralization laws in Indonesia could not ensure the
effectiveness of public service delivery due to the absence of sound governance at local level.
Keywords: program effectiveness, infrastructure development, wastewater service,
decentralization, public service delivery.
INTRODUCTION
More than ten years of the introduction of new Indonesian decentralization laws No.
22/1999 and 25/2009, the transition towards a more democratic country remains
challenging. Many argue that the “big bang” process of decentralization could contributes
to the problematic implementation of the laws which led to two significants revisions of the
decentralization laws (in 2004 and in 2008) (Erb, Priyambudi, & Faucher, 2005, p. 21;
Widianingsih, 2006; Widianingsih & Morrell, 2007; Widianingsih, 2015). Apart from
continuous debates on the the Post-Suharto decentralization laws, to some extend the laws
give more power to local government in managing more effective and deliberative local
development.
1
Post-Graduate Program Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences
Universitas Padjadjaran Bandung.
2
Public Administration Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Universitas
Padjadjaran Bandung
3
Anthropology Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Universitas Padjadjaran
Bandung
Correspondence: diny16001@mail.unpad.ac.id