Deputy Social Affairs Minister Agus Jabo Oversees Rp1.2 Trillion in Aid for East Aceh and a Permanent People’s School in Kotabaru

JAKARTA — Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono received East Aceh Regent Iskandar Usman Al-Farlaky and Kotabaru Regent Muhammad Rusli at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Jakarta on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. They discussed speeding up post-disaster aid for East Aceh and preparations for a permanent People’s School (Sekolah Rakyat) in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan.

Rp1.2 Trillion in Post-Disaster Aid for East Aceh

East Aceh is included in waves 10 and 12 of the second-phase aid proposals, with total needs of Rp1.2 trillion. The funds are planned for living allowances, home furnishing and economic stimulus for disaster-affected residents. Iskandar hopes the wave 10 aid can be settled this month. “At least this November it should be cleared for stage 10,” he said, as quoted by detikcom.

Agus Jabo explained that the budget proposal is being discussed with Bappenas before going to the Finance Ministry for approval. Once approved, the ministry will distribute the aid through state-owned banks (Himbara) or PT Pos Indonesia, as follows:

• Living allowance: Rp15,000 per person per day.
• Home furnishing aid: Rp3 million per family.
• Economic stimulus: Rp5 million per family.

Agus Jabo also asked Iskandar to present East Aceh’s needs directly at a ministerial meeting on Thursday, 5 November 2026, and pledged to keep overseeing the budget proposal. “I will keep overseeing the process at Bappenas,” he said.

A Permanent People’s School for 2,500 Students

Meanwhile, Kotabaru is among 158 proposed sites that meet the initial “clear and clean” requirements for a permanent People’s School. Its planned capacity has been raised from 1,000 to 2,500 students. The Kotabaru government has set aside about 10 hectares of regional land and is ready to complete the required administrative and technical documents.

The People’s School targets children from poor and extremely poor families in deciles 1 and 2 of the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN), with admission through outreach and verification rather than academic tests or favoritism. “The People’s School doesn’t just take care of the students; we empower their parents and will repair their homes,” Agus Jabo said.

“On behalf of the regional government, we of course welcome the program,” said Kotabaru Regent Muhammad Rusli.

Summarized from detikcom and Bsinews (in Indonesian).