Bandung City Allocates Social Protection Funds For BBM Imbas Rising Rp9.2 Billion, Liquid Starting October 2022

BANDUNG - The Bandung City Government (Pemkot) has formulated a social protection budget that was sucked up from the 2022 APBD Public Distribution Fund (DTU). The funds are to anticipate inflation and weaken people's purchasing power due to the increase in subsidized fuel.

Bandung City Regional Secretary Ema Sumarna said the Bandung City social protection fund was IDR 9.2 billion. According to him, the funds will be disbursed from October to December 2022.

"As much as 2 percent of our DTU will shift for the next three months, from October to December," said Ema in Bandung, West Java, Thursday, September 8.

This policy is a follow-up to Minister of Finance Regulation Number 134 of 2022 concerning mandatory spending in the context of handling the impact of inflation.

According to him, the funds are used for labor-intensive programs that can involve people who are economically vulnerable. The community will work on several work programs and become income.

The agencies involved in this matter are the Department of Transportation (Dishub), the Manpower Service (Disnaker), the Department of Trade and Industry (Disdagin), and the Office of Cooperatives and SMEs.

"Disnaker can carry out activities such as repair of drainage. We direct people who are included in the Social Welfare Integrated Data (DTKS) group and those who are economically vulnerable," he said.

As for labor-intensive through the Bandung City Cooperatives and SMEs Office, according to him, data collection will be carried out on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) first.

"Please look for micro entrepreneurs who need capital, such as smallholders, fried foods, and Surabi," said Ema.

In addition, he also asked the Trade and Industry Office to hold low-cost market activities in collaboration with Bulog, so that people can buy basic necessities at a lower price.

"Regarding the form of activities, they are returned to their respective offices. We will immediately compare them in the form of proposals in accordance with Perwal Number 95. The plan is that Monday there will be a new Perwal on this matter," he said.