PEN Realization Until October 15: Use Of Funds Reached Rp428 Trillion, Mostly Social And Health Insurance

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani reported that the use of the 2021 National Economic Recovery (PEN) funds had reached Rp428.21 trillion.

"This amount is the realization until October 15, 2021 from the provided ceiling of Rp.744.77 trillion," he said in a virtual seminar entitled Synergy of PC-PEN Program on Thursday, October 21.

In his explanation, most of these funds were channeled to the social protection sector (perlinsos) amounting to Rp122.4 trillion. This was followed by Rp115.8 trillion in the health sector, Rp67 trillion in priority programs, Rp62.6 trillion in MSME and corporate support, and Rp60.3 trillion in business incentives.

"We hope that people will continue to maintain health protocols because the costs for handling COVID-19 are really very large and are still moving," he said.

To note, the 2021 PEN ceiling of Rp744.77 is a revision of the previous budget of Rp699 trillion.

The increase in the number is an anticipatory step by the government for the development of the delta variant in the middle of this year, which makes daily cases increase drastically.

Meanwhile, in 2020, the PEN budget was provided for Rp. 695.2 trillion with a realization of Rp. 575.85 trillion.

"Through measures to deal with the economy and recovery due to COVID-19, we see that people's activities are now gradually improving. This is a sign that we must take care of together," concluded Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani.