Jakarta. The government recently admitted that almost half of the social assistance did not reach the targeted households, while promising that they would improve the recipients' database.

The National Economic Council (DEN) reported that 45 percent of the assistance recipients were ineligible. In other words, many of the beneficiaries were not low-income families or other vulnerable communities as intended.

Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said that the government would take into account this harrowing fact when evaluating the program, among others, by upgrading the so-called Integrated National Economic System, locally known by its abbreviation DTSEN. Different ministries, agencies, and sub-national governments will also coordinate with one another to verify the recipients.

“We will take the next step to address those who do not deserve social aid. We will shift them to the ones who truly deserve it,” Saifullah said in a recent “BeritaSatu Utama” dialogue.

His ministry aims to finish revising the data before the next assistance rollout. 

“We have to make sure who receive government assistance are the well-deserving people. President Prabowo Subianto has instructed us to do so,” Saifullah said.

The government is currently gearing up for the third quarter rollout.

According to Saifullah’s past statements, the government will upgrade the DTSEN every three months for a better-targeted distribution. Over 18 million people are expected to receive non-cash food assistance. Some 10 million others will get the Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH), a household-targeted cash aid initiative.