Good News From Luhut! Implementation Of Emergency PPKM Accompanied By Provision Of Social Assistance (Bansos)

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan ensured that if the implementation of the Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) on July 3-20 will be accompanied by the provision of social assistance (bansos) to the community.

In his statement, Luhut said that the spike in cases that occurred in the past few weeks was beyond the government's predictions.

"Because to be honest, we (the government) never predicted that after June this year there would be a spike in COVID-19. So we don't know a lot about this pandemic and it turns out that the increase is extraordinary," he said at an online press conference after holding a meeting of related ministers, Thursday, July 1.

He also admitted that he had coordinated with the Minister of Social Affairs, the Minister of Finance, and the Governor of BI to accelerate the distribution of social assistance to the public.

"We have agreed to return to provide assistance," he said.

Luhut hopes that through this step the impact of Emergency PPKM will be mitigated and the economy can recover faster than before.

Furthermore, he also asked various parties to continue to support the government's efforts in tackling COVID-19.

"Economic recovery has already occurred in mid-2021, so if an observer says this as soon as I want to meet him, come to me because we have the data," said Luhut.

Although he confirmed that he would roll out social assistance again, the retired 4-star TNI did not specify exactly how much and the value the government would roll out.

According to VOI records, in the 2021 State Budget, the government has budgeted a social assistance or social protection fund of Rp. 148 trillion which is included in the national economic recovery fund (PEN) scheme.

Meanwhile, until June 18, 2021, the realization of the social assistance budget has reached 64.9 trillion or 43.8 percent of the budget ceiling provided by the government.

This year's PEN fund is budgeted at Rp699.4 trillion, which is distributed to five strategic sectors, including social protection.