"We don`t know how much the budget because we will talk about it with the House of Representatives (DPR) first," Armida Alisjahbana said
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Development Planning Minister Armida Alisjahbana has said the allocation of funds for the poor to compensate planned subsidized fuel price hike, will be discussed during talks with the Parliament.

"We don`t know how much the budget because we will talk about it with the House of Representatives (DPR) first. But, as mentioned by the President, the compensation to be given consists of three existing programs plus a temporary direct cash assistance (BLSM)," Minister Armida Alisjahbana said here on Tuesday.

The three programs for the poor people are rice distribution (raskin), education scholarships, and conditional cash transfer program called Family of Hope Program (PKH).

In addition to the three programs, the compensation package will include BLSM, she said.

Regarding rice distribution for the poor, the government will give them rice for three more months, so the poor will receive the rice until 15 months, she explained.

"So far, the rice distribution is only for 12 months. To compensate the fuel price hike, they will receive rice for three more months," she said.

Concerning the scholarships for the poor, the coverage will be increased from 30 percent to 39 percent.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier stated that the planned price hike of subsidized fuel will wait for compensation for the poor that must first be set during budget revision talks with the parliament.

Previously, Bambang Brodjonegoro of the finance ministry, said the single-price policy of subsidized fuel will save the state budget of up to over Rp30 trillion.

"If we increase the fuel prices by using single pricing system, from the first day, there will be saving already. It will be up to more than Rp30 trillion," he said in Jakarta, Monday.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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