Jokowi Provides Additional Social Assistance, Ministry Of Finance Reorganizes Budget

Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) of the Ministry of Finance Febrio Nathan Kacaribu. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Finance will prepare a State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) for additional distribution of social assistance (bansos) in 2024.

The additional social assistance includes direct cash assistance (BLT) of IDR 200,000 for the first three months of 2024 which will be distributed in February.

So that the total assistance that will be given to the community is around Rp. 600,000 to 18 million Beneficiary Families (KPM).

In addition, the Government will continue to distribute rice food aid (BPB) until June 2024.

This rice assistance will be given to 22 million food aid recipients (PBP) who each receive 10 kg of rice per month.

Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) of the Ministry of Finance, Febrio Nathan Kacaribu, said that most of the budget for social assistance was already in the state budget.

Even so, Febrio said that to meet all the needs of the social assistance budget, there would be several changes to the budget post that could be realized from other budget needs.

"Most of the Social social assistance funds) are already in the state budget, but there are indeed some changes that may be in response to conditions that exist in the community and globally. Now of course we will look for them," said Febrio to the media crew, Monday, January 29.

According to Febrio, all budget needs can be met and if there is a need that requires state budget intervention, it will remain ready because from the start the government has prepared this.

Febrio said that the budget in the APBN is flexible because it anticipates the needs of the community and reduces the shock absorber economy.

In addition, the APBN budget is also prepared to become a social cushion for the community caused by global and domestic turmoil.

"We are flexible in managing the state budget, so we have always prepared it like the last few years. So if for example there is a need in the community due to the turmoil we see in the global market, the state budget can remain ready," he explained.