House Member Urges Accurate Social Aid Data and Disaster Budgeting

A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII, Sigit Purnomo, has urged the government to update its data on social assistance (bansos) recipients and strengthen disaster management budgets to ensure policies are well-targeted and responsive to public needs. The statement was made following the Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the DPR and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Friday. Sigit assessed that the President’s state address offered optimism through various achievements, including the ‘Sekolah Rakyat’ programme, the strengthening of energy sovereignty via B50, and the commitment to crack down on illegal mining. However, he noted that policy effectiveness ultimately depends on implementation and data accuracy at the grassroots level. Based on feedback from his constituency, DKI Jakarta II, which covers the Seribu Islands, West Jakarta, and North Jakarta, Sigit identified issues with the classification of aid recipients into deciles. He reported that some residents are excluded from the lowest decile (Desil 1) simply because they have a micro-loan. ‘In the field, we receive reports that residents are not classified as Desil 1 just because they have a loan, even though the debt is not for luxury goods but merely to survive and buy food for the next day,’ he said. He emphasised that the President’s grand vision must be supported by concrete and accurate data updates to ensure aid reaches the right targets. Beyond social aid data, Sigit urged the government to ensure adequate budget availability for disaster management, citing operational constraints in North Sumatra due to limited ready-to-use funds and supporting fleets. He also welcomed plans for integrated public transport development to the Seribu Islands, supported by government subsidies to make services more accessible. ‘The President stated that development is a long march, a continuous struggle requiring constant improvement. We in the MPR Assessment Body are committed to ensuring that the government’s grand ideas can be implemented effectively, accurately, and supported by fair budget readiness,’ Sigit concluded.