DPR Asks For Additional Social Assistance For 2 Liters Of Cooking Oil, Minister Of Finance Purbaya: We Can

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive (Photo: Aris Nurjani/VOI)

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa expressed his readiness to increase the allocation of social assistance (bansos) if needed.

Meanwhile, the original aid was only 10 kilograms of rice per month, the plan was to add two liters of cooking oil.

This addition is a response to the request of the Chairman of the Budget Agency (Banggar) of the DPR RI Said Abdullah, in a working meeting related to the Submission and Rate I Panja Report and Decision Making of the State Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, which was held on Thursday, September 18.

"The government has issued a new policy of stimulants of Rp. 16.23 trillion to encourage people's purchasing power. We hope that those who are poor and vulnerable to getting 10 kg of rice per month, we just consulted with the leadership of the DPR, the direct request from the DPR leadership for Rp. 16.23 trillion is specifically for the 10 kg of rice, not enough 10 kg of rice. Please add 2 liters of cooking oil per month," Said said in a working meeting at the DPR Building, Thursday, September 18.

He even said that if this additional social assistance was approved, an agreement on the 2026 RAPBN posture could be reached immediately.

"If that's the agreement, the posture is agreed," said Said jokingly.

Responding to the request, Purbaya stated that he was ready to fulfill and would evaluate the budget of ministries/agencies that had not been absorbed until October, and then transferred to the social assistance program which had a direct impact on the community.

"(Bansos) 2 times 10 kg (rice) is just the first trial. We will calculate later if it is lacking, in December we will also add 2 liters of oil. If we add 2 liters of oil, I think we can afford it," he said.

He added that the Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor the realization of all K/L expenditures until the end of the year.

"We will continue to monitor government spending until the end of October, I will safari roughly, then those who have large expenditures, I monitor them that they can not be absorbed until the end of the year. As soon as the end of the year it is not absorbed, we just take it, we spread it to programs like this. So we are able, sir," he said.