Non-thin Disaster Budget, Purbaya Guarantees Availability Of Emergency Funds For Disaster Management

The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Purbaya Yudhi Sadive. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government ensures that the disaster management budget is still sufficient. This was conveyed in the midst of the circulation of the issue that the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) budget was decreasing, while disaster events continued to increase in various regions, including in Sumatra.

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive explained that BNPB currently still has more than Rp500 billion in funds that can be immediately used for disaster management operations.

He also ensured that if the needs in the field exceeded that amount, the government was ready to increase the budget.

"BNPB still has more than Rp500 billion. Then if later we need additional funds we are ready to add and already in the budget," said Purbaya when met after attending the Kadin National Meeting, Monday, December 1.

"(How much is the budget fund?) This depends on BNPB's request. You know I am rich. But the money is enough," he added.

He added that the additional budget could be submitted through an Additional Budget (ABT) mechanism.

"It would be a disaster if I'm not mistaken. What is clear, I forgot the cord. It seems that there is a disaster emergency and we just need to submit a BNPB to us. We will process it later.

Purbaya also ensured that the government did not lack funds for emergency needs. "Wow, we are ready to continue," he said.

He reminded that disaster emergency funds are available and the government is ready to support disaster management, both in the emergency and rehabilitation stages.

"Indeed, I asked how much. How much is enough do you think? We are enough. Including for rehabilitation, it will be done," he said.

When asked whether the additional budget also includes social protection for affected residents, Purbaya said that it depended on BNPB's proposal.

"I don't know what kind of submission from BNPB will depend on later. But the money is enough," he said.