Pramono Urges Honesty in Economic Census: 'If You're Struggling, Say So'
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has urged residents to honestly report their economic conditions during the 2026 Economic Census. He stated that public honesty is key to ensuring the government has accurate data for formulating various policies.
“I urge all Jakarta residents, wherever and whenever they are surveyed, to report their situation truthfully. This is the key to our future decision-making,” Pramono said during the launch of the Economic Census 2026 at Jakarta City Hall on Monday (13/7/2026).
Pramono asked the public not to conceal their actual economic situation. He emphasised that the data would serve as the basis for the government in determining policy direction. “Don’t be closed off; it’s better to be open. If you’re struggling, say you’re struggling; if you’re happy, say you’re happy; if you’re rich, say you’re rich; if you’re poor, say you’re poor,” he stated.
According to Pramono, data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has always been the primary reference for the Jakarta Provincial Government in making decisions, ranging from the distribution of social assistance to the formulation of various development programmes. “For me, this data is the most important reference for making technocratic decisions. Therefore, almost all BPS data is used as a reference in decision-making meetings at City Hall,” he revealed.
Pramono cited BPS data on slum areas, which showed the number of slum neighbourhoods in Jakarta fell from 445 in 2017 to 211 in 2026. He said this data serves as a reference for the government in designing settlement management programmes.
He also stressed that there are three sectors whose budgets should not be cut: social assistance, education, and health. These three sectors require valid data to ensure policies are accurately targeted. In the education sector, Pramono noted that the Jakarta Provincial Government continues to maintain the Jakarta Smart Card (KJP) programme for around 707,000 students and the Jakarta Superior Student Card (KJMU) for approximately 15,900 university students. Starting next year, the Jakarta Provincial Government also plans to launch an LPDP Jakarta scholarship programme for around 50 to 75 students to pursue studies abroad.
Meanwhile, the Head of BPS RI, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, confirmed that the data collected in the Economic Census is used solely for statistical purposes and not for taxation. “This census is for statistical purposes, not for taxation. So, once again, the confidentiality of individual and personal data will be safeguarded,” she said.
She added that the public need not worry about data security. BPS has collaborated with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), Telkom, and Peruri to ensure the security of data stored on BPS servers. Amalia also reported that the progress of Economic Census 2026 data collection in DKI Jakarta had reached 45.17 percent as of 13 July. The data collection period runs from 15 June to 31 August 2026, with officers visiting households and business premises.