West Java Allocates IDR 50 Billion Social Assistance During PPKM Level 4, Targets Artists, Street Vendors To Cultural People

JABAR - The Regional Government of West Java Province has allocated a budget of IDR 50 billion for provincial social assistance which will be given to communities affected by the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Level 4.

"The amount is still uncertain, both the number of targets and the value. However, if you look at yesterday (the results of the meeting), a minimum of IDR 50 billion. Hopefully, it can increase. This is a picture of (social assistance) for West Java", said the Head of West Java Provincial Social Service, Dodo Suhendar, at a virtual press conference from Bandung, Antara, Friday, July 23.

According to Dodo, currently, the West Java Provincial Government is intensely preparing a plan for distributing social assistance to communities affected by the Implementation of Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) Level 4.

The West Java Provincial Government is finalizing the social assistance sourced from the West Java Provincial Budget. The plan is that the social assistance will be directed to professions affected by PPKM, such as artists, cultural observers, and street vendors (PKL).

"Provincial social assistance will be for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially PPKM, so they are not active", said Dodo.

In addition to finalizing the target for social assistance recipients, said Dodo, the West Java Provincial Government is also preparing the number of targets and the amount of social assistance. 

Dodo explained that there were 13 formal social assistance doors during the PPKM, starting from the central government to district/city governments.

The thirteen types of social assistance, namely (1) Regular PKH Quarter 3; (2) BNPT/Regular Basic Food Program; (3) Cash Social Assistance; (4) Government Reserved Rice Assistance for KPM PKH; (5) Government Reserved Rice Assistance for BST; (6) Additional Government Reserved Rice Assistance for Regency/City Governments. (7) 5 kg x 1 Month Rice Assistance from Non-APBN Funds from the Secretariat Office.

Then, (8) Social Assistance for the Regency and City Governments (Bandung City, Ciamis Regency, and Bogor Regency); (9) Village Fund BLT; (10) Assistance for Micro Business Actors; (11) Electricity Discount Assistance; (12) Pre-Employment Card; and (13) Internet Quota Subsidy Assistance.

Dodo said the number of recipients of the 13 aid in West Java reached 10,129,949 Beneficiary Families (KPM) and 4,362,641 people. He also explained that there were additional recipients of PKH and Cash Social Assistance (BST) in West Java.

"The total head of families in West Java is around 14 million. If 10 million become KPM, it means that 68 percent of all families in West Java Province get social assistance from these 13 sources," said Dodo.

The number of PKH recipients was originally 1,718,362 families to 1,813,956 families. Then, the number of BST recipients, from 1,957,321 families to 2,060,882 families.

"This addition is likely from the results of the proposal from the Provincial Government and Regency / City Government which has entered the Ministry of Social's buffer stock data, already has a valid NIK and is compatible with the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said

According to Dodo, the West Java Social Service Office will open a complaint and information service to accommodate people affected by PPKM but have not yet received assistance from the 13 sources.

"Later, the report will be linked to other sources of assistance, both from the government, institutions, and non-governmental organizations. One of them is with Baznas", he said.