Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the use of presidential assistance (banpres) funds for forest and land fire handling must be carried out transparently.
“It must be properly, accountably, and transparently accounted for to the state and to the public,” Antoni said in a statement here on Wednesday.
President Prabowo Subianto has allocated wildfire handling assistance funds amounting to Rp30 billion for South Sumatra Provincial Government, Rp20 billion each for Ogan Komering Ilir and Musi Banyuasin district governments, and Rp15 billion each for Ogan Ilir and Banyuasin district governments.
Antoni said the assistance funds reflect President Prabowo’s attention to regions dealing with forest and land fires.
“This is a form of attention from the President, a leader who is very present among us. He has held direct coordination meetings, but has also provided special assistance for this wildfire handling effort,” he said.
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The assistance was given amid existing budget support for fire handling which already available through the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), relevant ministries and agencies, the Indonesian Military (TNI), the police, and regional budgets (APBD).
According to Antoni, the disbursement of the assistance funds has also been accompanied by a circular letter from the Home Minister containing technical guidelines for its distribution and management.
He stressed the process should not be hindered by bureaucracy, while still remaining accountable.
“This presidential assistance is followed by a circular letter from the Home Minister Tito Karnavian on the technical guidelines, on how the funds are distributed and managed. It should not be made difficult by various bureaucratic obstacles, but must still be accountable and transparent,” he noted.
Antoni also asked the funds to be disbursed as soon as possible and used to support fire handling needs, including purchasing equipment and preventing the impacts of forest and land fires, including on public health.
“The provincial and district governments will work together with the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in distributing the funds to support fire handling efforts in their regions,” he said.
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Translator: Arnidhya, Kenzu
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
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