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Govt to deliver US$1.5 billion food subsidy in voucher form
The government has allocated a food subsidy of Rp 19.8 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in next year’s budget to be distributed in the form of vouchers. The amount, however, is lower than the Rp 22.5 trillion in a similar allocation in 2016.
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National Development Agency (Bappenas) head Bambang P. S. Brodjonegoro discusses with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo before a Cabinet meeting in Jakarta recently. (thejakartapost.com/Wienda Parwitasari)
Anton Hermansyah
The government has allocated a food subsidy of Rp 19.8 trillion (US$1.5 billion) in next year’s budget to be distributed in the form of vouchers. The amount, however, is lower than the Rp 22.5 trillion in a similar allocation in 2016.
National Development Agency (Bappenas) head Bambang P. S. Brodjonegoro said the food vouchers would be distributed by the Social Affairs Ministry to the rightful recipients to buy rice and staple foods.
“The vouchers will be in the form of paper or electronic cards, depending on the available facilities in the targeted community,” he said on Thursday in Jakarta, adding that the voucher scheme was in accordance with President Joko Widodo’s instruction not to give lump-sum cash payments to help the poor.
Aside from the food subsidy allocation in the 2017 state budget bill, the government is also allocating Rp 31.2 trillion for a fertilizer subsidy and a Rp 1.3 trillion crop subsidy. These two allocations are up by Rp 1.1 trillion and Rp 300 billion, respectively.
“However, the fertilizer and crop subsidies are to be given in cash,” Bambang said, adding that the government had submitted the 2017 state budget bill to the House of Representatives on Tuesday and expected approval by October. (ags)
