JAKARTA - Member of Commission II of the DPR from the Gerindra Party Faction Azis Subekti said the decision of the Minister of Finance Number 59 of 2026 marked the country's rapid fiscal steps in responding to natural disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Where the central government shifted the budget and added the Special Autonomy Fund, General Allocation Fund, and Special Autonomy Fund with a value of more than Rp. 10 trillion.
"Politically, this is a clear signal that the state does not delay its presence in the midst of an emergency. However, policy does not stop at decisions. It is tested on implementation," said Azis in his statement, Monday, March 2.
Azis explained, the data on the realization of the Transfer to the Region as of March 1, 2026 showed that out of the total allocation of around Rp. 85 trillion, the new distribution reached around 25 percent. This figure, according to him, sends a clear message that the money has been prepared, but the recovery has not moved at a speed that is commensurate with the needs of affected citizens.
"At this point, the main issue is no longer about the availability of budget, but about capacity and execution orientation," he explained.
Azis said that additional DBH and DAU did provide fiscal space for the regions, but it was still aggregate. He assessed that the funds came as large numbers, not as detailed damage maps. In fact, disasters act specifically, damaging certain infrastructure, cutting off access to certain local economies, and paralyzing basic services at clear points.
"Without sharpening priorities, the biggest risk is that the budget will move, while the recovery is slow," he said.
The next problem lies in the governance of local governments. According to Azis, many regions are still moving at a normal procedural rhythm, namely the layered change of the APBD, a long procurement process, and cross-district/city coordination that is not centralized. In the context of post-disaster, Azis said, administrative inertia is not just a technical issue, but touches on the dimension of social justice.
"Residents who lost their homes and livelihoods do not live in a bureaucratic schedule," he said.
In addition, Azis assessed that the size of the success of the policy was still too narrow. The absorption of the budget is often used as the main indicator, as if the percentage of realization was identical to the recovery. In fact, the public is waiting for tangible results, clean water that is flowing again, roads that can be passed again, health services that have recovered, and schools that are safe for children again. "Therefore, the next step must be directed at changing the orientation of policies and practices. First, the provincial government needs to take a more decisive leadership role in the architecture of recovery. The priority map of basic services after disasters must be a reference for all districts and cities so that additional funds can really answer the most urgent points of damage," he explained.
Second, continued Azis, the central government needs to ensure responsible fiscal flexibility. He said, accelerating the approval of budget changes and providing a measurable discretionary space for regional heads is the key to ensuring that emergency policies are not stuck in normal procedures.
Third, the success indicator needs to be expanded from merely absorbing the budget to measuring the impact of recovery. Transparency based on results, not just financial statements, will strengthen public confidence while encouraging discipline in the performance of local governments.
"The money has come down. The policy has been made. Now the recovery must not be held back by old habits. In the midst of the post-disaster situation, the country is tested not by the size of the budget, but by its ability to turn fiscal decisions into life that is running again," said the Gerindra legislator from Dapil Central Java VI.
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