Budget For Handling COVID-19 In Surabaya July-December Estimated At IDR 446 Billion

SURABAYA - The budget for accelerating the handling of COVID-19 in the City of Surabaya, East Java, from July to December 2021 is estimated at around IDR 446 billion.

The Regional Secretary of Surabaya City, Hendro Gunawan, said that from the estimated expenditure of around IDR 446 billion, the figure that could be covered by the Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) was IDR 200 billion.

"We have refocused everything. But it turns out that it is not enough. Moreover, the Regional Original Revenue (PAD) is projected to decrease by IDR 1.5 trillion", he said, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 19.

According to Hendro, his party together with the Heads of Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) of the Surabaya City Government have made various efforts to rationalize the budget for each department. In fact, he asked that despite the limited budget in each OPD, it is still obligatory to carry out performance outputs without a budget.

Under current conditions, the Surabaya City Government needs the togetherness of all stakeholders to be involved and play a role in handling COVID-19. In fact, Hendro also invited all levels of society to work together to stop the spread of this world epidemic together.

Hendro also believes that the handling of this pandemic can be resolved if all elements of society provide their support, both manpower, and material.

"We invite people who can help get involved in handling the pandemic. We also carry out strict guarding, which is supported by the local RT/RW. We also provide them with disinfectant spraying tools so they can sterilize their area" he said.

Through the "Surabaya Calls" program, Hendro invites all levels of society to donate some of their sustenance at the Surabaya Disaster Care Post.

The command post, which was re-opened at the Surabaya City Hall yard, received all kinds of assistance, ranging from funds to necessities needed in handling the pandemic such as medical masks, hazmat clothes, hand gloves, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), antigen rapid test kit and PCR swab test kit.

"So some expenditures that cannot be covered by the APBD are combined with existing funds in Surabaya Care for Disasters. This is a form of our efforts to reduce the spread of the virus so that this situation will improve quickly", he said.

Actually, continued Hendro, so far the ranks of the Surabaya City Government have collected donations for funds in Surabaya Care for Disasters. In fact, every month, the donations collected from officials to staff are handed over to the Surabaya Cares Disaster account.

"This is a routine from us, but Alhamdulillah there is also a lot of support from the community. Once again, with the humility of the people of Surabaya, this city needs help so that it can quickly recover from the pandemic and the economy will move back to normal", said Hendro.