In order to encourage openness of information in village government management, the Commissioner of the Central Information Commission, Rumadi Ahmad, emphasized that the capacity of village officials must be increased in serving village communities.

“Because if not, they could become the target of the community,” he said at a discussion on Village Public Information Service Guidelines held by the Regional Research and Information Center (PATTIRO), Gondangdia, Central Jakarta, Monday (21/11).

The reason, said Rumadi, is that not many villages have implemented the information disclosure mandated by Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages, “Information openness is still at the district level. Even then, not all districts. “This means that not all district levels are aware of information disclosure, let alone the levels below, the village level,” added the bespectacled man.

Rumadi said, there are two types of information that can be opened. First, mandatory information is published without being asked by the public. Second, information must be preceded by public demand if it is to be published.

“Well, we are still discussing information that is not available all the time,” he said.

Even though there are differences in types of information, Rumadi emphasized that openness of information is the right of every citizen at any level.

“Information disclosure is not only in the interests of national or political elites. “But openness of information is also part of the village community’s lifestyle,” he said.

Therefore, in strengthening efforts to increase information transparency at the village level, the Executive Director of PATTIRO, Maya Rostanty, suggested that the rules or guidelines regarding village public information services should be made simple so that they can be easily implemented by the village government.

“So that the village government can prepare it more quickly,” he added at the same location.