"There was a question during a meeting in Bali if the money for Lombok was spent for the IMF meeting. That is not true at all," she stated while reviewing the victims of the earthquake in Guntur Macan Village, Gunung Sari Subdistrict, West Lombok District, on Monday.
She also stressed that the earthquake and tsunami that hit the City of Palu and Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi, had no effect on the availability of the budget for handling the impact of the earthquake in NTB.
"There was a question whether with the government money has run out after the earthquake in Palu. That is not true. The money for Lombok is for Lombok as needed. For Palu, it will be according to a separate mechanism," she noted.
The budget for the IMF-WB meeting has been set carefully. The budget post for disaster management is a separate post that is well managed.
For this reason, she asked certain parties not to issue provocative statements that could make the earthquake victims anxious.
"No one should try to stir up the feelings of the people affected by the earthquake by making a provocative statement," she remarked.
In the presence of NTB Governor H. Zulkieflimansyah and West Lombok Regent H. Fauzan Khalid, Sri Mulyani remarked that she had disbursed the budget, amounting to Rp2.1 trillion, for disaster management in NTB.
The funds were allocated for emergency needs and housing development assistance, as stated by President Joko Widodo during a visit to NTB some time ago. Rp50 million was allotted to those whose houses were heavily damaged, Rp25 million for moderately damaged houses, and Rp10 million for slightly damaged houses.
Meanwhile, life insurance assistance will be paid after earthquake victims occupy permanent housing built by the government. The value of social aid funds that will be given is Rp10 thousand per day per victim, she added.
"The regional government has registered all residents who will receive life insurance. The list will be submitted to the Ministry of Social Affairs to be verified with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)," she noted.
The minister, who is familiarly called Ani, added that besides the state budget, the government also thought of making a stimulus so that the economic life of earthquake victims would return to normal.
Stimulus is given to earthquake victims who experience damage from the business side. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) will later carry out a loan abolition mechanism.
In addition all businesses affected by the earthquake will be relieved from their tax obligations, she revealed.
"So we aim to make people have space and opportunities and the ability to get back on their feet. We will use all instruments needed," she pointed out.
Reporting by Awaluddin
Editing by Eliswan, Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
