In The Aftermath Of The Increase In Fuel, Commission IV Members Ask The Government To Prepare A Long-Term Assistance Program For Fishermen

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives Daniel Johan said the social assistance (bansos) prepared by the government as a cushion for the increase in subsidized fuel prices (BBM) was only temporary.

Therefore, he asked the government to prepare a long-term assistance program provided to fishermen and marine industry players.

"Social bills prepared by the government for the lower class community, including fishermen, are only temporary. There needs to be a long-term program to help fishermen, especially small fishermen, so they don't have trouble going to sea," he said in an official statement, Thursday, September 15.

Daniel highlighted how small fishermen have had difficulty enjoying subsidized fuel. He said, small fishermen find it difficult to get access to buy subsidized fuel, so they buy it at retailers. This is quite burdensome for small fishermen.

Based on a survey conducted by the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen Association (KNTI) and Initiatives in 25 regencies/cities, as many as 83 percent of fishermen buy fuel at retailers at higher prices than subsidized fuel at refueling stations. The increase in fuel prices also makes retail prices higher.

"This provision certainly reduces fishermen's income because most of the marine costs are spent buying fuel," said Daniel.

Not only that, Daniel said that discrimination over subsidized fuel access was also found to be happening to fishermen considering that based on Presidential Regulation 191 of 2014, fishermen must have a recommendation letter from the local government to obtain subsidized fuel.

According to Daniel, this recommendation letter must be taken care of every month on condition that the fisherman has a fishing permit (small passport) and evidence of ship registration (BPKP) issued by the port.

"Meanwhile, many of the fishermen's settlements have inadequate access to public services. So taking care of this recommendation letter is not easy," he said.

Not to mention, said Daniel, these small fishermen must also fight for subsidized fuel with large fishermen and groups of workers from other sectors who are entitled to subsidized fuel. Of course, this situation is an irony considering that private vehicles can buy subsidized diesel without any administrative requirements that are quite complicated.

Daniel also highlighted data from KNTI that the availability of fuel filling stations for fishermen or Solar Packed Fisherman Dealers (SPDN) was only 3 percent or 374 stations compared to the number of coastal villages in Indonesia.

"The lack of infrastructure for the convenience of small fishermen accessing subsidized diesel must be addressed immediately. So assistance for fishermen is not enough just for social assistance, but the main problem must also be addressed," said the legislator from the West Kalimantan I electoral district.

"If the fuel problem that is the largest cost component of fishermen is not handled immediately, be prepared Fishermen will be destroyed from Indonesia," continued Daniel.