Minister PU Ngadu to the DPR Emergency Response Fund of Rp. 4.3 Trillion Has Not Been Approved by Bappenas

Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo admitted that the proposal for an additional allocation of emergency disaster response funds in 2026 of Rp. 4.3 trillion has not received approval from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).

Dody explained that the proposed additional emergency disaster response budget was originally part of the proposed allocation of disaster handling budget in Sumatra of Rp74 trillion for the next four years.

"The instructions from Bappenas at that time, because this is still an emergency response, just take it from BNPB, so it seems that in the quotation mark it is crossed out (from the proposal). This is still in the discussion stage, well we have not received any further instructions (regarding the proposal) of Rp. 4.3 trillion," said Dody in the DPR Coordination Meeting (Rakor) with the Post-disaster Recovery Task Force of Sumatra at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, February 18.

In fact, said Dody, his party is currently carrying out a number of projects from the proposed emergency response budget of IDR 4.3 trillion.

Therefore, Dody hopes that the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) can allocate special funds to cover the emergency fund budget of Rp. 4.3 trillion this year.

"Because, you know, you can't wait, sir. That (Rp4.3 trillion) doesn't have a position, lah, in quotation marks. I hope, sih, there is a special budget of Rp4.3 trillion," he said.

Dody emphasized that if the government did not disburse the proposed budget, it was feared that it would interfere with the implementation of other infrastructure development projects.

"So, if we have to eat from the inside (using other post budgets), it seems a bit difficult for us to do other work later," he explained.

Responding to this, the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi admitted that he would immediately carry out further coordination with the Head of Bappenas.

He ensured that his party together with the Head of Bappenas would find a middle ground regarding the issue.

"With the permission of the leadership, if the problem is in Bappenas, let us be responsible," he replied briefly.