tirto.id – Researcher The PRAKARSAAccording to Irvan Tengku Harja, the Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) provided by the government in stages is not in line with the needs of the community due to the increase in the price of fuel oil (BBM).
It is known, this BLT will be given to 20,65 million beneficiary families (KPM) with a budget of Rp. 12,4 trillion. Each KPM will receive funds of Rp. 150.000 four times.
"We'll just look at the national poverty line data as of March 2022 at Rp505.469. Even if BLT BBM is given all at once, it is only enough for a month's needs, perhaps. However, rising fuel prices and their impact can be long-term," he said in a statement, Wednesday (7/9/2022).
Furthermore, he said the government's policy of increasing the price of assigned fuel products, subsidies, to non-subsidies will suppress household consumption. This is because fuel prices affect transportation costs, both as logistics costs and people's mobility needs.
"The increase in fuel prices will raise prices such as food, reduce household spending, and trigger inflation," said Irvan.
In the future, according to Irvan, so that fuel prices do not continue to be a problem, there needs to be what he calls a Protective Fuel Price Adjustment. For example, the assumption of Indonesian crude oil price (ICP) in the 2023 RAPBN is 90 US dollars per barrel.
If the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP) moves beyond US$90 per barrel, the government will subsidize the fuel price to protect people's purchasing power. However, if the ICP price falls below US$90 per barrel, the government will lower the price of fuel but by increasing the VAT rate of 0,5 percent for fuel in order to protect state finances.
According to Irvan, protective fuel price adjustments need to be considered as a policy option, because they can maintain fuel price stability, protect people's purchasing power, as well as protect state finances from fuel subsidy swelling.
"Try to run this middle way (Protective Fuel Price Adjustment), but it must be evaluated periodically," he concluded.
Sumber: Tirto
