Jakarta, ThedailyID — Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has urged Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to immediately approve additional funding for four priority programmes aimed at accelerating post-disaster recovery in Aceh.
Tito made the request during a meeting at the Finance Ministry in Jakarta on Monday, July 27. He said the funds would help speed up recovery in agriculture, fisheries, religious facilities, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
“These four ministries are our highest priorities. I hope the Finance Minister can approve the funding as soon as possible,” Tito said.
Tito requested about Rp6 trillion in additional funding.
He said the Agriculture Ministry would receive Rp2.6 trillion to restore damaged farmland and plantations. The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry would receive Rp1.5 trillion to rehabilitate fish and shrimp ponds.
The proposal also allocates Rp4.8 trillion to the Religious Affairs Ministry for repairing Islamic boarding schools, madrasahs, and places of worship.
In addition, the MSMEs Ministry would receive around Rp600 billion to help affected small businesses, including shops and cafés.
Tito acknowledged that the relevant ministries still need to complete some administrative documents. However, he urged officials to accelerate the approval process so the funds could reach affected communities sooner.
“Once the funds are transferred, we can accelerate Aceh’s rehabilitation and reconstruction,” he said.
Tito also said the government has already disbursed Rp31.1 trillion of the Rp39 trillion allocated this year for ministries and agencies under the Aceh Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force.
He said the Public Works Ministry received the largest allocation, with Rp21.1 trillion for roads, bridges, and river infrastructure.
Other allocations included Rp4.1 trillion for the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry to repair nearly 5,000 schools, Rp2.3 trillion for permanent housing, Rp562 billion for healthcare facilities, and Rp2.5 trillion for social assistance programmes.
The government has also transferred Rp10.6 trillion directly to the provincial governments of Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and affected district administrations.
Tito said the task force would continue monitoring reconstruction projects and regularly update the public on their progress.
