President Asks Ministers to Pay Attention to Public Transport Sector

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked ministries to pay attention to the public transportation sector in discussing the draft 2014 state budget. "The impact of the fuel price hike will still be felt in 2014. Pay serious attention to adequate budget allocations to the improvement of public transportation as I stated when we took a decision on the reduction of fuel subsidy," he said when opening a limited cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office here on Tuesday. The adequate budget allocations for public transportation in the draft 2014 state budget will encourage private car users to switch to public transport modes, he said. The President also attached significance to adequate budget allocations for basic infrastructures to better serve the public. "Don't forget to allocate budget funds for social safety net in view of the current condition which has not changed much. I think we must at least accommodate these components in the 2014 state budget," he said. He said the budget allocations in the 2014 state budget must meet the target, and so must the distribution of budget funds. "This means that we must be fully aware that this state budget must meet the right target, right allocation and right distribution," he said. (*) Reporting by Panca Hari Prabowo