Antara, Jakarta – Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto allocated Rp4.6 billion from the general allocation fund (DAU) for providing social assistance to people affected by the hike in fuel prices, including public transport drivers.
Bima said Home Affairs Ministry orders local governments to use two sources of funds to ease people's burden as the central government increased the price of subsidized fuel.
"First, the budget for unexpected expenses (BTT) can also be used to provide social assistance. We will formulate the amount and the target. Secondly, the regional government is obliged to allocate two percent of DAU [for the social aid]," said Bima as quoted from Antara, Monday, September 5, 2022.
He elaborated that the social assistance will be disbursed to public transport or angkot drivers, online ojek drivers, and micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs). As for the distribution, Bima said his side is waiting for the central government's guidance.
On Saturday afternoon, September 3, President Jokowi announced the price hike of subsidized fuel, Pertalite to Rp10,000 per liter from Rp7,650 per liter and Solar to Rp6,800 per liter from Rp5,150 per liter. The government also increased the non-subsidized fuel price, Pertamax to Rp14,500 from Rp12,500 per liter.