DPR Tasks Purbaya to Fly to Flores, Requests Budget Reallocation

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has tasked several of its leaders, together with Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa and other relevant ministers, to travel to the disaster area in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

This was confirmed by Deputy Speaker of the DPR Sufmi Dasco Ahmad during the second DPR Plenary Session on Tuesday (18/8/2026). The delegation was assigned to distribute aid to earthquake victims in Flores, NTT.

The DPR also requested that the government reallocate unnecessary budget items to support earthquake response efforts.

“To provide assistance, as well as to reallocate unnecessary budget to handle the impact on victims,” said Dasco.

Previously, Purbaya assured that the government always prepares special funds for disaster management across Indonesia. The government emphasised that funding must not become an obstacle in emergency response efforts following natural disasters.

Purbaya said the government currently has approximately Rp5 trillion in on-call funds available that can be used at any time to support disaster response. This amount can even be increased if needs on the ground rise and there is an official request from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

“Disaster funds are always on standby at around Rp5 trillion. But if it is insufficient, we will add more, depending on the needs submitted by BNPB,” said Purbaya on the sidelines of the 81st Anniversary of Indonesian Independence commemoration, quoted on Tuesday (18/8/2026).

According to Purbaya, the government has prepared mechanisms and standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that disaster management funds can be disbursed quickly and responsively.

He stressed that every official request received will be immediately followed up by the government to ensure that emergency response processes are not hampered by funding issues.

“As soon as an official request comes in, we follow up immediately. Specifically for disaster needs, our SOPs are designed to be responsive, as long as the request is clear,” he said.