Disaster Task Force Chief Demands Inter-Regional Grants Be Finalised by Next Week
The Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) for post-disaster Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, has given local governments, both donors and recipients, a deadline until next week to finalise all inter-regional grant distribution processes for disaster-affected areas. This is to ensure that the acceleration of rehabilitation and reconstruction is not hampered by administrative issues, whilst affected communities still require immediate handling.
Tito explained that the emergency response phase has ended and recovery has now entered the permanent recovery stage. Therefore, all financing instruments prepared by the government must be immediately optimised, including additional Transfers to Regions (TKD) and inter-regional grants. He made these remarks whilst chairing a hybrid coordination meeting on the acceleration of post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sumatra with local governments in Jakarta today.
“I respectfully request, specifically regarding grants, please resolve this by Monday next week. If the problem is that the prospective recipient has not submitted a proper and correct proposal, I may cancel it and announce it publicly. Do not complain later, because the assisting regions are already prepared,” Tito said in a written statement on Wednesday (17/6/2026).
Based on data from the Task Force, the government has allocated additional TKD funds amounting to Rp 10.6 trillion to all local governments in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra to support post-disaster management and risk mitigation. Concurrently, the government is also promoting an inter-regional grant scheme to assist affected areas with high recovery needs, particularly in Aceh.
Under the assistance scheme from North Sumatra to Aceh, financial commitments totalling Rp 260 billion have been recorded from the City of Medan, Deli Serdang Regency, Simalungun Regency, Asahan Regency, Serdang Bedagai Regency, the Province of North Sumatra, Pematangsiantar City, and Labuhanbatu Regency. Most of these funds have already been transferred to the recipient local governments’ accounts. Only one transfer remains pending, namely Rp 25 billion from Labuhanbatu Regency to Gayo Lues Regency, due to incomplete proposal documentation from the recipient.
Meanwhile, financial assistance from 15 regencies and cities in West Sumatra to affected areas in Aceh totals Rp 29 billion. However, as of mid-June 2026, only a small portion has been realised. The Task Force noted that several regions have yet to complete the necessary head of region regulations, regulatory harmonisation, or other administrative processes.
Tito stated that the government has already provided facilitation through Ministry of Home Affairs Letter Number 900/4277/SJ dated 21 May 2026, which stipulates that the use of grants and financial assistance does not require approval from the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD). “I have emphasised in the circular that mere notification to the DPRD is sufficient. I am putting myself on the line to assist regional heads. Do not let this simple process hinder regions that are in need of help,” he asserted.
If by next week there are still regions that have not followed up on their grant commitments, the Task Force will take firmer action. For recipient regions that fail to complete their proposals, the assistance may be cancelled. For donor regions that do not fulfil their commitments despite all requirements being met, Tito stated he will coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to find a mechanism for direct distribution to the recipient region and evaluate the donor region’s commitment in subsequent fiscal policies.
On a separate note, Tito urged local governments to immediately utilise the additional TKD funds they have received to address urgent needs on the ground, such as river normalisation, basic infrastructure repairs, strengthening of roads and bridges, and handling other disaster impacts. He stressed that these funds must not remain idle in regional treasuries whilst communities are still waiting for accelerated recovery. In line with this, the Task Force is also continuing to push for the acceleration of budget disbursements from ministries and agencies that have been included in the Sumatra Post-Disaster Master Plan.
“Regions should move forward with the existing TKD and grants, whilst we push ministries and agencies to act immediately with the budget prepared by the central government. What is important now is that everything is synchronised and no more time is wasted,” Tito concluded.