Erna's office to launch fuel-recovery program<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Settlement and Regional
\nInfrastructure is set to launch a massive three-month recovery
\nprogram, involving 4,895 villages in 14 provinces outside Java,
\nusing funds from the fuel subsidy worth some Rp 300 billion.<\/p>\n
According to minister Erna Witoelar, the program, dubbed the
\ncommunity empowerment program, is designed to assist destitute
\npeople and build decent infrastructures for their villages.<\/p>\n
The funds are from the remaining budgeted but unused fuel
\nsubsidy totaling around Rp 800 billion and will be distributed to
\nrelated ministries for alleviation of poverty, Erna explained in
\na media briefing on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Two related ministries are the Ministry of Home Affairs and
\nRegional Autonomy and the State Ministry for Cooperatives and
\nSmall\/Medium Enterprises.<\/p>\n
\"With the hike in fuel price by up to 12 percent scheduled for
\nthis fiscal year, there will be a drop in fuel subsidy from Rp 44
\ntrillion to Rp 43.2 trillion.<\/p>\n
\"So the government plans to use the unspent subsidy to work on
\npoverty eradication, and my office expects to receive around Rp
\n300 billion that will be officially set in the coordination
\nmeeting on economic affairs on Monday,\" Erna said.<\/p>\n
The massive recovery project, slated to start from October to
\nDecember this year, will involve 4,895 villages, 255 districts
\nand 47 regencies in 14 provinces outside Java.<\/p>\n
\"We will give priority to eastern Indonesia region. Every
\nvillage is estimated to receive between Rp 50 million to Rp 96
\nmillion. Each district, however, will get an amount between Rp
\n870 million and Rp 1.6 billion,\" the ministry staffer Rubini
\nYusuf, said.<\/p>\n
In a bid to avoid possible fraud or malfeasance, the proposals
\nfor building or rehabilitating the village would come from the
\npeople from community welfare organizations, Erna said.<\/p>\n
\"Each village community will decide for itself. Whether they
\nneed road repairs, a bridge, port, clean water, schools,
\ncommunity health center or dam, the people are the ones who know
\ntheir needs.<\/p>\n
\"The government only provides the funds and joint supervision
\nwith local communities at every level of administration,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The three-month program is expected to absorb some 14,685,000
\nman days\/village, she said.<\/p>\n
\"The people will also decide the wages, usually based on the
\nminimum wage in each region. It also depends on the kind of
\nproject, repair or new construction,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Erna also reiterated that the scheme would run effectively.
\n\"We are in no hurry to disburse the funds. If the funds are not
\ncompletely used in three months, we will allot the unused monies
\nfor the next fiscal year. Now is not the time to waste money,\"
\nshe added. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ernas-office-to-launch-fuel-recovery-program-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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