Jakarta DPRD Clarifies IDR 300 Billion Food Subsidy Budget Reduction: It's for 10 Months

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), Khoirudin, explained the reduction in the food subsidy budget by IDR 300 billion in the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) for the 2026 Fiscal Year Regional Budget (APBD).

This reduction was protested by several members of the Jakarta DPRD during the plenary session to ratify the Draft Regional Regulation (Raperda) for the 2026 Fiscal Year Regional Budget (APBD).

After the meeting, Khoirudin clarified that the budget for affordable food social assistance (bansos) will not be cut next year.

He stated that the DPRD and the Jakarta Provincial Government will add the IDR 300 billion reduced in the 2026 RAPBD to be included in the revised 2026 APBD draft, which will be implemented mid-next year.

"God willing, there will be no cuts to social assistance funds. All our programs are for the first 10 months. We will budget for it later, and we will budget for it during the drafting of the revised 2026 APBD," Khoirudin said at the Jakarta DPRD building on Wednesday, November 12.

Therefore, Khoirudin asked the members of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) who had protested the IDR300 billion reduction in the 2026 Draft Regional Budget (RAPBD) through their interruptions in the plenary meeting to understand this dynamic.

"So, the social assistance is secure for 10 months. I will decide in the revision meeting that the (affordable food assistance) will be available in November-December, and the revised budget will be in July-August. God willing, it will be secure, and I appreciate my colleagues (DPRD) who have been so compassionate to the people of Jakarta," Khoirudin explained.

In a meeting also attended by Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung this afternoon, the DPRD and the Jakarta Provincial Government ratified the 2026 Draft Regional Budget (APBD) at IDR81.3 trillion. This figure is down from the initial plan due to a IDR15 trillion reduction in revenue-sharing funds.

Before the ratification, several DPRD members delivered their interruptions. They protested the reduction in the food subsidy budget next year to IDR300 billion. One of them was Lukmanul Hakim, a member of the PAN faction of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD).

"I want to express my concern and sadness about the planned reduction of IDR 300 billion in affordable food subsidies to the public. This should not be implemented. According to information from meetings, the reason for the reduction is because UHT meat and milk are not in demand," Lukmanul said in the meeting.

Francine, a member of the PSI faction of the Jakarta DPRD, expressed her faction's objection to the budget reduction. Francine asked the DPRD leadership and the Jakarta Provincial Government to reconsider the reduction in the food subsidy budget, as many underprivileged residents are still not included in the subsidy.

"We, from the PSI faction, also strongly object to the reduction of the IDR 300 billion food subsidy. In our working meetings in Commission B, we discovered that subsidized food, which should be the right of all beneficiaries, or 100 percent of beneficiaries, has only allocated around 35 percent of our budget," Francine explained.

"So if this is cut by another 300 billion, there will be another decrease in beneficiaries, possibly less than the 35 percent mentioned earlier," he continued.

Furthermore, Ali Lubis, a member of the Gerindra faction of the Jakarta Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD), also criticized the IDR 300 billion reduction in the budget for subsidies or affordable food programs. Ali even requested that the ratification of the 2026 Regional Budget (RAPBD) be postponed.

"Looking at the dynamics of today's plenary session, several factions are trying to criticize the budget, particularly the IDR 300 billion reduction for food aid, Mr. Governor. I think the ratification of this Draft Regional Regulation (RAPDA) should be postponed for the next few days, so we can discuss it outside the plenary session," Ali said.