REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The government prepared 30 trillion IDR as an anticipation, once subsidized fuel price increased, the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, Agung Laksono, said on Wednesday. “There is a budget of 20-30 trillion IDR for four packages of subsidies,” he said. Yet, the budget is now still discussed with the parliament.

The four packages of programs are, among others, temporary direct cash assistance program (BLSM) given to the households listed in Social assistance programs data (PPLS) 2011. The affected households are 30 percent from 18.5 million low-income households.

The second package is rice for the poor (raskin), which is 1,600 IDR per kilogram. Each family will get 15 kilograms rice. The third is subsidies for 60 million students, then the last is subsidies for transportation. “By pouring subsidy, no need to increase the fares of public transportation fares,” he said.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Anny Ratnawati, said government prepared the compensation for the poor in 2012 revised state budget. “We are preparing related to distribution mechanism, the amount, and its target,” he said.

Meanwhile, Central Board of Statistics (BPS) finished collecting data of the poor. Other supports are the procurement of converter kit for public transportation, soft loan for the trading of non-subsidized fuel, and subsidized price for LGV. The consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel increases eight percent and five percent compared to the previous period. “Since Indonesia is one of the biggest natural gas producers in the world, then diversification of fuels is a must,” she said. 

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika