Disaster Grant Budget Almost IDR 10 Trillion, Sri Mulyani Staff Monitoring Regional Finances Every Three Months

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Finance stated that the grant funds for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of disaster management from the central government to regional governments (Pemda) from 2015 to 2021 had reached IDR 9.713 trillion. This amount is close to the budget ceiling set at IDR 9.992 trillion.

The Director-General of Fiscal Balance of the Ministry of Finance, Astera Primanto Bhakti, said the realization figures had been distributed to more than 387 local governments. Given the high value of the grant, Astera reminded the local government to always carry out disaster management work programs in a professional and timely manner.

"Every three months the Directorate General of Fiscal Balance together with BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency) monitors and evaluates the progress of the implementation of rehabilitation and reconstruction grants in the regions", he said in a press statement on Monday, March 21.

Sri Mulyani's subordinate also explained that in post-disaster recovery efforts in the regions, local governments are expected to be able to take into account their ability to realize the budget when making proposals for rehabilitation and reconstruction grants.

"So that in its implementation it can be realized promptly and by the planned or proposed outputs", he said.

To note, by Law 24/2007 and PP 22/2008, Indonesia has three stages of disaster management mechanisms, namely pre-disaster, emergency response, and post-disaster stages.

In this regulation, the central government ensures the readiness of funds in each phase of disaster management through the State Budget.

Meanwhile, these funds are used, among others, for rescue and evacuation of affected communities, fulfillment of basic needs, and immediate restoration of strategic infrastructure facilities.

"Rehabilitation and reconstruction grant funds are allocated through central government grants to regional governments to be used according to regional authority", concluded Astera.