Kendari (ANTARA) - Direct cash assistance (BLT) for the transfer of fuel subsidies (BBM) has been provided to 95.9 percent of the targeted beneficiaries nationally, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) informed on Tuesday.
"Regarding the BLT BBM, the realization to date has reached 19.7 million beneficiaries, meaning that it has reached 95.9 percent (of the target); it is almost finished," he said on the sidelines of an event held to hand over wage subsidy assistance (BSU) and BLT BBM in Baubau on Tuesday.
President Jokowi is expecting the distribution of BLT BBM to be completed in all regions by the end of this year.
"The target is to finish. By the end of the year, it will be finished, God willing," he said.
He advised all beneficiaries to use the aid to meet their daily basic needs.
This would allow the benefits of social assistance distribution to be felt directly by the community, and ensure that the goals and objectives of the program are realized.
During the working visit to Baubau city, Southeast Sulawesi, the President was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung; Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah; Minister of Investment and head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia; Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, Ali Mazi; and Mayor of Baubau city, La Ode Ahmad Monianse.
Jokowi and his entourage first visited the Post Office and then continued their journey to Wameo Market to meet traders and hand over assistance and business capital funds.
Earlier, the President said that the BLT BBM provided by the government is expected to help maintain the people's purchasing power.
"We hope BLT BBM would be able to maintain the people's purchasing power," the head of state stated.
The government has decided to provide Rp150 thousand in BLT BBM to each beneficiary for a period of four months. Overall, BLT of Rp300 thousand will be disbursed twice through Indonesia Post to beneficiaries.
"We just finished handing over BLT BBM amounting to Rp600 thousand for four months to beneficiaries in Tanimbar Islands district in Maluku," he informed.
Meanwhile, in connection with the certainty of fuel prices, he said he is still waiting for certain calculations.
"For the (price) of fuel, everything is still being calculated, and today, the calculation will be handed over to me," the head of state added.
The government has also allocated social assistance worth Rp24.17 trillion from the transfer of fuel subsidies for providing three types of assistance. First, BLT of Rp150 thousand will be provided to 20.6 million beneficiaries for four months, for which a budget of Rp12.4 trillion has been allocated.
Second, wage subsidy assistance of Rp600 thousand will be handed out to 16 million workers with a maximum salary of Rp3.5 million per month. The assistance will be paid in a single tranche and a budget of Rp9.6 trillion has been set aside for its provision.
Third, assistance from local governments using two percent of the general transfer funds, specifically the General Allocation Fund and Revenue Sharing Fund, worth Rp2.17 trillion will be provided for the transportation sector, including for public transportation, motorcycle taxis, fishermen, and additional social protection assistance.
The government is also preparing several schemes to change the subsidized fuel price policy, specifically for Pertalite and Solar fuels, to maintain the subsidized fuel quota to meet the needs of the community until the end of 2022, in accordance with the state budget ceiling.
Baca juga: Presiden Jokowi sebut penyaluran BLT BBM mencapai 95,9 persen
