"It is not yet final and still has yet to be discussed with the DPR. But it is certain that the poor`s income must be raised. It would be a pity if it is not," Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government will immediately discuss compensation for the poor who will be affected by the planned fuel price hike with the House of Representatives (DPR), Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri said.

"It is not yet final and still has yet to be discussed with the DPR. But it is certain that the poor`s income must be raised. It would be a pity if it is not," he said here on Friday.

He said the government still had time to discuss the matter before the revised budget is passed and subsidized fuel oil prices are adjusted.

"We will decide about it later. We still have time for it," he said.

He said the government has had an experience in providing compensations for the poor such as in the form of cash handout (BLT) when the fuel price was raised in 2005 and 2008.

He said the government so far has not yet made any decision regarding the amount of the BLT to be given like several years ago.

"It has not been decided. It may be higher or lower. It is not yet final," he said.

Salim said his office still has data of those eligible for the cash handout. "We have the data. It will be us who will distribute it perhaps with the help of PT POS, BRI and other banks," he said.

The minister of development planning, Armida S Alisjahbana, meanwhile said that the cash handout is a short-term policy. She said the government could also expand the hopeful family program to assure that poor families receive immunization and proper education.

"We wish the next generation will be healthier and more educated to cut cycle of poverty," she said.

Armida said the cash handout in a short term could help the poor meet their basic needs such as rice while the benefit of the hopeful family program is long-term.

"The BLT is an option because in Cluster One it no longer exists. We wish it is the hopeful family program that will be carried out so that they would not become poor. BLT is only for emergency so that people have money to buy rice," she said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012