(This is) from the allocation of Rp10.821 billion from 2 percent of DTU of Lampung province's regional budget (APBD) for social assistance.
Bandarlampung, Lampung (ANTARA) - The distribution of social assistance sourced from 2 percent of Lampung province's general transfer funds (DTU) has reached 90 percent, according to the province’s Social Office.

"(This is) from the allocation of Rp10.821 billion from 2 percent of DTU of Lampung province's regional budget (APBD) for social assistance. The distribution has been carried out quite well," head of the Lampung Social Office Aswarodi said here on Friday.

According to him, the social assistance is targeted at 14,407 beneficiaries, with each beneficiary receiving Rp250 thousand per month in the period from October to December 2022.

"Based on the latest data, as of December 23, it has been distributed to 12,895 beneficiaries or around 90 percent," he said.

Of the 14,407 targeted beneficiaries, there are still 1,512 beneficiaries that have not taken the assistance, he informed.

"Actually, the deadline for taking the aid was December 23, 2022. However, we are extending it to today in the hope that the aid can be fully distributed," he said.

Aswarodi affirmed that direct disbursement has been carried out for beneficiaries who are sick, people with disabilities, older adults, and those lodged in correctional facilities in order to maximize the distribution of the social assistance.

"Volunteers have also been dispatched to serve beneficiaries who are having problems to take the assistance directly. However, most of the 1,512 beneficiaries cannot take it because they are outside the region for work, and some are even migrant workers abroad," he said.

He further informed that if, until the extended deadline, the beneficiaries have not taken the assistance, the funds will be returned to the province's treasury.

"Nevertheless, we are still maximizing this (the disbursement) because yesterday (January 5, 2023), we asked for the detailed data of beneficiaries who have not taken the aid so that it can be directly distributed," he added.

Related news: Lampung government to increase food safety control before year end
Related news: Lampung developing social forestry-based development area
Related news: Lampung must preserve local language through daily use: Governor









Translator: Ruth Intan, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023