BOBONARO (TOP) - Official visit activities and also to see closely the conditions in each municipality to prepare to receive the implementation of decentralization of local government has arrived in the municipality of Bobonaro.
In the municipality of Bobonaro located in the west of the country, Prime Minister (PM), Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão considers the role and intellectual contribution of Bobonaro people important to bring the policy of decentralization of local government into the municipality.
The Prime Minister expressed this consideration during the discussion on “Looking closely at the municipal service from the results of the assessment of minimum conditions” held at the GOR Maliana hall on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Xanana Gusmão gave great appreciation to all Bobonaro intellectuals who showed great interest in participating in this discussion.
This appreciation was expressed by the Head of Government through the distribution of tais to the Bobonaro intellectuals present, to recognize their contribution and readiness to help prepare the policy of decentralization of local power in the municipality.
"Likewise, Bobonaro needs your help. Although you are very wise and live in Dili, you do not forget Bobonaro. I appreciate the presence of Bobonaro intellectuals here. It is a proof that you are wise and do not forget Bobonaro. Thank you for your participation," PM Xanana said.
Ask Bobonaro intellectuals who specialize in various areas to return to help offer various training as a contribution to the preparation to receive local government.
"That's right. Intellectuals are not looking for knowledge to go back to other countries. Let's help our friends here to serve Bobonaro better. Bobonaro intellectuals are an example for young people to actively participate in development, especially in the struggle to lift the people out of poverty and suffering," Xanana Gusmão appreciated.
Regarding the implementation of the policy of decentralization of local government, PM Xanana appealed and gave serious attention to all municipal authorities including Bobonaro intellectuals to avoid partisanship, tribalism, groupism and familiarism.
"I appeal to the intellectuals, in the policy of decentralization of local government there is no party. There is only Bobonaro-oan must work together for the good of the people and the municipality," the national leader appealed.
The Minister of State Administration (MAE), Tomas do Rosário Cabral acknowledged the participation of Bobonaro intellectual volunteers in the whole process of preparing the policy of decentralization of local government.
“I appreciate and thank the intellectual contributions. We created a unit in the Technical Support Office with the approval of a ministerial diploma for intellectuals to participate in this meeting to strengthen the functioning structure of the municipal authority,” Minister Tomas Cabral said.
The recommendation is based on the results of the Minimum Condition Assessment (MCA) team, Bobonaro's Administrative System and Record; It requires improvement of administrative procedures such as correspondence and dispatch, improvement of archive management services and application of digital archive system.
In the Human Resources of Bobonaro; Increase the volume of technical assistance and technical training in the area of planning, administration, finance, procurement and computer science through the Minister of State Administration, develop an integrated training plan for annual human resources in line with the guidance and guidelines of the Ministry of State Administration, need to create Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) and Terms of Reference municipality, need to update the municipal human resources database quarterly, identify budget gaps before recruiting new workforce, strengthen the municipality's capacity to identify and collect local revenues to reduce dependence on the budget from the central government.
General observation from the Ministry of State Administration, Bobonaro at the beginning of the year, the Municipality must present a budget plan and procurement plan to be approved by the Superior Guardian before implementing. Budget execution according to category and must have budget coverage before issuing Commitment Payment Voucher (CPV), Annual Action Plan, Municipal and Programming All Municipal Investment Plans and procurement plans must be published on the Municipal Portal, maintain communication, coordination and unity in the workplace.
To facilitate the improvement of the existing recommendations, MAE will offer generic training and technical training that has started training in the second week of February to November 2026 by INAP, DGDGL and DGSMAL with participants from the municipal authority structure and administrative post.
Meanwhile, the President of the Bobonaro Municipal Authority, Paulo Moniz Maia presented to the Prime Minister and the ministers present about the profile and potential of the municipality as a basis to respond to the criteria set in the policy of decentralization of local government.
The presentation focuses on economic, social, infrastructure and institutional development, including human resources, natural resources, budget and municipal coordination.
Bobonaro has its own Single Balcony and Portal to facilitate management in these areas, the Government has taken the initiative to develop integrated services such as “Single Balcony” to accelerate services to the community at the municipal level.
Finally, the President of the Authority declared before the Prime Minister and ministers that the municipality of Bobonaro is ready to accept local government that the central government will implement in 2027.
This policy is set out in Law number 3/2016 on Local Government and Administrative Decentralization with its main objectives: strengthen local democracy, people can participate directly in decision-making, increase public service efficiency, promote economic and social development, municipalities can plan development according to reality, increase transparency and reduce responsibility.
The discussion was also attended by the Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, Gastão Francisco de Sousa, Minister of Public Works, Samuel Marçal, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forests, Marcos da Cruz, Minister of Health, Élia dos Reis Amaral, Minister of Education, Dulce de Jesus, Minister of Justice, Seergio Hornai, Minister of Transport and Communications, Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, Deputy Minister of Infrastructures, Júlio do Carmo, Secretary of State for Social Communications, Expedito Dias Ximenes, Secretary of State for Local Development, Mateus dos Santos Tallo, Secretary of State for Arts and Culture, Secretary of State Forestry, Fernandinho Vieira, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Domingos Mariano Reis, municipal authorities, post authorities, local authorities, veterans, intellectuals, directors of municipal services, heads of departments, including civilian and military authorities.
Bobonaro municipality has six administrative posts, 50 villages, 193 sub-villages with a total population of 132,547 from 29,588 households who speak Tetun, Bunak, Kemak, Bekais and Tetum Terik.
