How to Implement Disability Concession Policy at the Regional Level

Kartunet - The enactment of Government Regulation (PP) Number 31 of 2026 concerning Concessions for Persons with Disabilities and Incentives for Companies by President Prabowo Subianto on July 2, 2026, marks a significant victory for the inclusion movement in Indonesia. This regulation secures the right to a cost reduction (concession) of at least 20% in nine strategic public service sectors for holders of the Disability Card (KPD).

However, the struggle is not over. The state gazette signed in Jakarta will not automatically change parking fees, clean water costs, or public transport ticket discounts in remote areas. Many crucial sectors within this PP have their implementation delegated to regional authorities through Regional Head Regulations (Perkada)—whether in the form of Governor's Regulations (Pergub), Regent's Regulations (Perbup), or Mayor's Regulations (Perwali).

This article will thoroughly examine why this policy is prone to bottlenecks at the local level, and how Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDIS) and communities can tactically oversee its implementation.

Why is PP 31/2026 Highly Dependent on Regional Policies?

Within the structure of regional autonomy, local governments have independent authority over various public services that directly impact the daily needs of persons with disabilities. PP Number 31 of 2026 explicitly mandates regional involvement in regulating the technical aspects of granting concessions in the following sub-sectors:

• Transportation Sector: The regulation of local land travel fares, public parking fees, and terminal accessibility falls under the authority of Regional Head Regulations.
• Housing and Utilities Sector: Reductions in clean drinking water (PDAM) and environmental sanitation tariffs must be further regulated by respective regional regulations.
• Entrepreneurship Sector: The provision of reduced rental fees for micro-small enterprises (UMK) for persons with disabilities is managed by local regional agencies.
• Culture, Tourism, and Sports Sector: Entrance fees for local tourist destinations, local museums, cultural heritage sites, and usage fees for local government-owned sports facilities are entirely dependent on regional head regulations.

Without implementing Perkada, local government officials and regional enterprises (such as PDAM or Regional Transport Companies) lack the legal basis to reduce tariffs for KPD holders. Consequently, the fulfillment of disability rights risks stagnation at the local bureaucratic level.

Monitoring the 2-Year Deadline (July 2028)

Article 31 of PP Number 31/2026 mandates that all implementing regulations of this PP must be established no later than 2 (two) years from the date this regulation is enacted. This means that relevant ministers and all Regional Heads (Governors, Regents, Mayors) have a deadline until July 2028 to finalize all draft derivative regulations.

Disability communities in the regions must not remain passively waiting. OPDIS must take proactive initiatives to oversee the creation of these Perkada before the deadline expires, to ensure no rights are overlooked.

Tactical Guide for OPDIS to Oversee Perkada Formation

Here are concrete steps that disability communities at the district, city, and provincial levels can take to accelerate local regulations:

1. Conduct Audiences and Proactive Engagement

OPDIS in the regions must unite to form cross-disability coalitions to request official audiences with Regional Heads (Regents/Mayors/Governors), the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), the Regional Secretariat Legal Bureau, and members of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). Focus the audience on introducing PP 31/2026 and urging the immediate drafting of Perbup/Perwali/Pergub concerning Regional Disability Concessions.

2. Participate in the Drafting of Regional "Master Plans"

Based on the mandate of Law Number 8 of 2016, Local Governments are obliged to formulate plans for fulfilling disability rights in the form of a Master Plan. OPDIS can use this momentum to integrate the concession rights from PP 31/2026 into regional planning and budgeting documents (APBD).

3. Support Orderly Administration and Data Validation

One of the obstacles for Local Governments in formulating policies is the lack of accurate local disability data. OPDIS can partner with the Social Affairs Office and the Population and Civil Registration Office (Disdukcapil) to collectively update data. Encouraging data updates through the National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN) system will accelerate the issuance of KPD for local communities.

What if Regional Bureaucracy is Uncooperative or Refuses?

In some cases on the ground, it is often found that local officials or the Social Affairs Office have not been properly socialized, do not understand decile rules (thus mistakenly assuming KPD is only for poor citizens receiving social assistance), or are even reluctant to serve the KPD registration process.

If encountering such bureaucratic obstacles, disability communities have the legal right to pursue the following official complaint channels:

1. Official Ministry of Social Affairs Complaint Channel: Report rejections or obstacles in the region to the Ministry of Social Affairs Call Center at 171 or via written message to the Ministry of Social Affairs WhatsApp Center (0887-7171-171). Every complaint entered into the central system will be monitored and directly dispatched to the nearest work unit for follow-up.
2. Report to the National Commission on Disabilities (KND): The KND is an independent institution tasked with monitoring, evaluating, and advocating for the fulfillment of disability rights. Regional OPDIS can write to the KND to request mediation assistance or technical guidance for uncooperative local governments.
3. Access Ministry of Social Affairs Centers: If access to the local Social Affairs Office is blocked, visit a Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) or a Ministry of Social Affairs Center in your area to assist with data facilitation and human rights protection.

The KPD is the main key to fulfilling your concession rights. Oversee the process, advocate for its regulations in the regions, and ensure no person with disabilities is left behind in enjoying these equal rights. (DPM)

Official Document References:

1. Government Regulation (PP) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 31 of 2026 concerning Concessions for Persons with Disabilities and Incentives for Companies (State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Year 2026 Number 73, Supplement to the State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7188).
2. Law (UU) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 8 of 2016 concerning Persons with Disabilities (State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Year 2016 Number 69, Supplement to the State Gazette of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5871).
3. Minister of Social Affairs Regulation (Permensos) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 2 of 2021 concerning Disability Cards (State News of the Republic of Indonesia Year 2021 Number 439).
4. Minister of Social Affairs Regulation (Permensos) of the Republic of Indonesia Number 3 of 2025 concerning the Updating and Use of National Socio-Economic Single Data (DTSEN) for Social Assistance, Social Empowerment, and Social Welfare Program Implementation.
5. Official Socialization Documentation of the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia: Presentation and Activity Recording of "Socialization of Government Regulation No. 31 of 2026 concerning Concessions and KPD" with Pusdatin and the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities (RSPD) of the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.