Cabinet Secretary: Urban Village Funds at Request of Mayors

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung answers reporters’ questions at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Monday (22/10). (Photo by: Shally N/Public Relations Division)

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung reiterated that the Village Fund, which is expected to be disbursed next year, is at the request of mayors when meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“Once there is Village Fund, there is an issue because a village is now able to receive almost Rp1 billion, so we have to be fair,” Pramono told reporters after a limited meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Monday (22/10).

Pramono went on to explain that if the urban village fund is deemed necessary, and considering the Government is capable (of allocating the budget), then, the mechanism is now being regulated.

Regarding the amount whether it will be the same as that of the Village Fund, Pramono firmly said that there is a calculation with a different ratio, because different calculation methods are applied.

When asked about the decision to grant urban village fund ahead of the Presidential Election period, Pramono asserted that this is for the sake of the people. If the fund is granted to wealthy entrepreneurs, then it is indeed prohibited. “How come it is not permissible to grant it for the sake of the people,” Pramono said, adding that legal umbrella for the granting of urban village fund is now being studied.

“If the legal umbrella is already there, then we’ll execute it. Otherwise, we won’t. We will establish the legal umbrella first,” Pramono said, adding that the allocated budget of Rp3 trillion has not been used yet and is for reserve only. If the Government wants to use it for urban village fund, then it will be disbursed. (MAY/SLN/RAH/OJI/ES)(MUR/LW/YM/Naster).