Governor uninformed about fuel subsidies<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso is in the dark about the
\ngovernment's plan to provide cash to the city's poor to protect
\nthem from the effects of fuel price hikes due in two weeks.<\/p>\n
\"Although it is already mid-September, the central government
\nhas not contacted me, and the city administration cannot prepare
\nanything to anticipate the fuel hikes because there are no
\nguidelines at all,\" Sutiyoso said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In the absence of guidelines, Sutiyoso said he did not know
\nwhether his administration would be involved with the
\ndistribution of the money.<\/p>\n
\"Up to now, the city administration doesn't know how to
\ndistribute the funds, or whether it will affect us or be doled
\nout by the ministry of settlement and regional infrastructure,\"
\nSutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
The government has decided to reduce fuel subsides, something
\nwhich will result in a 12 percent rise in fuel prices beginning
\non Oct. 1. The subsidies, estimated to be Rp 800 billion, will be
\nused to reduce poverty.<\/p>\n
Minister of Settlement and Infrastructure Erna Witoelar and
\nMinister of Cooperatives and Small\/Medium Enterprises Zarkasih
\nNoer have been assigned to coordinate the distribution of the
\ncash through community programs.<\/p>\n
The price of premium gasoline will increase to Rp 1,150 (11 US
\ncents) from Rp 1,000 per liter, automotive diesel oil to Rp 600
\nfrom Rp 550 per liter, kerosene to Rp 350 from Rp 280, and bunker
\noil to Rp 400 from Rp 350 per liter.<\/p>\n
The government last raised fuel prices in May, 1998. The move
\nled to massive public protests and rioting in Jakarta which
\ncontributed to the fall of former president Soeharto the same
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives agreed to an average 12 percent
\nhike in February. To protect the poor from the severest effects
\nof the increase, the government decided in April to provide them
\nwith cash or special coupons to buy fuel at lower prices.<\/p>\n
Recipients of the aid would be registered by the Social Safety
\nNet Program Coordination Team.<\/p>\n
However, due to widespread public objections, the plan was
\ndelayed.<\/p>\n
City Hall spokesman Muhayat said on Wednesday the city would
\nprovide statistics on poor families in the city if the central
\ngovernment decided how they were going to distribute the aid.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, we waited for guidelines from state oil company
\nPertamina or the finance ministry before making any preparations.
\nBut until now, there have been no guidelines at all,\" Muhayat
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"We have to wait until the central government gives complete
\ninformation to the city administration. Once it decides how to
\ndistribute the subsidy, we can adjust the system with current
\ndata on poor people,\" he added.<\/p>\n
City administration data reveals that 861,000 people in the
\ncapital are living in poverty.(dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/governor-uninformed-about-fuel-subsidies-1447893297",
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