COVID-19 Cases Reach 34,000, Sri Mulyani's Subordinates Ensure That The State Budget Is More Responsive And Flexible

Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency of the Ministry of Finance Febrio Kacaribu. (Photo: Doc. FEB UI)

JAKARTA - Within five days of implementing the Emergency Restrictions on Community Activities (PPKM), COVID-19 cases were still in an increasing trend and again touched a record daily case of 34,379 as of July 7, 2021. This prompted the government through the Ministry of Finance to increase the response to the State Budget (APBN) in dealing with the impacts.

Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency of the Ministry of Finance, Febrio Kacaribu, said that the state budget remains responsive, flexible and anticipatory, which is reflected in the increase in the budget for the health sector.

"The health budget is mainly for the implementation of vaccinations, diagnostic costs, testing, tracing, treatment, incentives for health workers, death benefits, and the purchase of various drugs and personal protective equipment (PPE)", he said in a written statement, Wednesday, July 7.

Febrio added, in addition to the health sector, the state budget is also prepared to further protect the affected communities by widening the coverage and accelerating the distribution of social protection. According to him, all of these policies were implemented within the framework of implementing the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program with a fixed total allocation of IDR 699.43 trillion.

"This increase in health and social protection interventions is carried out through refocusing the 2021 State Budget, including in the PEN program itself so that it does not increase the need for financing", he said.

Furthermore, Sri Mulyani's subordinate explained that if the refocusing, reallocation, and reprioritization of the 2021 APBN were carried out, both from ministry/institutional expenditures, as well as Transfer to Regions and Village Funds (TKDD).

Just so you know, the government is currently focusing on reducing COVID-19 cases and containing its impact on people's welfare, especially the poor and vulnerable groups.

High uncertainty requires fiscal management to remain flexible with anticipatory and responsive efforts, while still maintaining the principle of prudence.

"Hopefully, with the case being quickly controlled, the economic recovery can get back on track immediately before the new wave", closed Febrio.