Minister Of Finance: Budget For COVID-19 Handling And National Economic Recovery Increases To Rp744.7 Trillion

JAKARTA - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the budget for handling COVID-19 and the national economic recovery (PEN) would be increased to Rp744.7 trillion from the original budget ceiling of Rp699.4 trillion.

"For the program to handle COVID-19 and PEN, now with the decision that had been approved by the President, it will increase to Rp.744.75 trillion," Sri Mulyani said in a virtual press conference quoted by Antara, Saturday, July 17.

In the budget for handling COVID-19 and PEN (PC-PEN), Sri Mulyani explained that the budget for social protection programs will increase to Rp. 187.84 trillion from Rp. 153.86 trillion.

Then, the health program will be increased again to Rp214.95 trillion from the previous Rp172 trillion.

Meanwhile, other programs in PC-PEN, said the Minister of Finance, are still in the budget allocation, which is not much different after the evaluation of the ongoing program.

"For business incentives of IDR 62.83 trillion, MSMEs fell slightly because they were more on credit for working capital guarantees, but not cash assistance. And, other priority programs remained at IDR 117.94 trillion. So, PEN funds and handling COVID-19 rose from Rp699.43 trillion to Rp744.75 trillion," he said.

With the change in the PC-PEN budget, there will be an increase of IDR 55.2 trillion. Sri Mulyani said that she would continue to comb through the budgets in ministries/agencies that could be transferred to the budget for handling COVID-19 and PEN.

"We will refocus again to continue researching and combing the budget at both ministries/agencies and regions so that the priority is to help the people deal with COVID-19 and to help the business world recover," he said.