http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/06/04/kalla-promises-allot-more-money-blt.html
Kalla promises to allot more money for BLT Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 06/04/2009 8:44 PM | National Presidential hopeful Jusuf Kalla pledged Thursday to allot higher budget for safety net programs in order to help poor families cope with the prolonged economic downturn. Zainal Bintang, a member of Jusuf Kalla-Wiranto campaign team, said Kalla and running mate Wiranto would continue implementing such safety net programs including direct cash aid (BLT), Mandiri national community empowerment program (PNPM Mandiri), public health security (Jamkesmas), and the school operational fund (BOS). "Those programs would remain "prima donna" agendas to help reduce poverty in the country," Zainal told the Jakarta Post. "For that, we will allot extra money to reach more people." He said Kalla would revise state budget to accomplish his goal. The current government has granted a BLT of Rp 100,000 (US$10) per poor family per month in compensation for fuel price increases in 2005 and 2008. Despite two consecutive cuts in fuel prices in 2008, the government has continued the BLT program until this year, a move that has been criticized by many politicians for taking a political advantage ahead of elections. The government allocated Rp 14 trillion worth of PNPM funds in 2008 and Rp 20 trillion this year nationwide [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
