Jakarta – The Ministry of Public Works is actively working to safeguard funding for its Community-Based Infrastructure (IBM) program, which is designed to directly benefit the nation’s lowest-income communities. Minister Dody Hanggodo affirmed this commitment during a working meeting with parliament on Tuesday.
Minister Hanggodo underscored the program’s importance, stating, “We all agree that Community-Based Infrastructure directly reaches the most underprivileged communities.”
For 2026, the ministry has earmarked Rp5.48 trillion (approximately US$321.1 million) for the IBM program, targeting 15,364 locations. This figure reflects an increase from the initial Rp4.8 trillion allocation in the 2026 Budget Implementation List (DIPA), following deliberations with the House of Representatives.
This dedication to the IBM program comes as government ministries and agencies face tighter budget constraints. The spending review is a response to President Prabowo’s directive to control the state budget deficit, influenced by prevailing global economic conditions.
A letter from the Finance Minister, dated April 1 (No. S-181), outlined a total DIPA allocation reduction of Rp12.71 trillion, bringing the overall budget from Rp118.89 trillion down to Rp106.18 trillion.
Despite these broader fiscal adjustments, Minister Hanggodo confirmed the ministry’s resolve to maintain the IBM program’s funding at Rp5.48 trillion. He indicated that any necessary budget reallocations would be sourced from other areas within the ministry’s portfolio.
Discussions are currently ongoing with the Ministry of Finance to finalize these budget arrangements, with a resolution anticipated by April 15. The minister added that internal efforts are underway to ensure the IBM funding is restored to its committed level.
These measures aim to ensure that the 2026 IBM targets are met, ensuring that the program’s intended benefits are fully realized by communities across the country.
Source: Original
