President Approves IDR 10.6 Trillion for Disaster Recovery in 3 Provinces

TheIndonesia.co - President Prabowo Subianto has approved Rp10.6 trillion (over US$625 million) in additional fiscal transfers to three provinces hit by floods and landslides last November, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said in Jakarta on Saturday.

“These funds are expected to help regional governments manage the impacts of the disasters to the best of their capacity. For those unable, the central government will step in,” he stated, as quoted by Antara.

He made the remarks after handing over compensation to disaster victims and disseminating information on the additional transfers in Pidie Jaya District, Aceh.

Karnavian, who heads the Task Force for Accelerating PostDisaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, explained that Rp1.6 trillion was allocated to districts and cities in Aceh, Rp6.3 trillion to North Sumatra, and Rp2.6 trillion to West Sumatra.

The central government decided to provide the three provinces with additional fiscal support after the minister proposed the transfers to President Prabowo and the House of Representatives (DPR), as he explained during a virtual meeting with the governments of disasterhit regions on Thursday (March 5).

On that occasion, Karnavian said the president decided that the additional budgets be allocated to all districts and cities across the three provinces, regardless of whether they were directly affected by the disasters.

“This is because the president considers the emergencies provincial in scale,” he added.

He explained that Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa had issued a decree related to the fiscal policy, while the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced a circular outlining technical aspects of fund use.

President Prabowo, he continued, demanded that the funds be strictly mobilized to accelerate rehabilitation and recovery efforts, as well as strategic initiatives to mitigate future risks, such as strengthening bridges and dams.

“The budgets can also be used for disaster mitigation training programs,” he said.

He explained that Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa had issued a decree related to the fiscal policy, while the Ministry of Home Affairs introduced a circular outlining the technical aspects of fund utilization.

President Prabowo, he continued, demanded that the funds be strictly mobilized to accelerate rehabilitation and recovery efforts, as well as strategic initiatives to mitigate future risks, such as strengthening bridges and dams.

“The budgets can also be used for disaster mitigation training programs,” he said.