Jokowi Prepares Government Expenditure Budget Of IDR 2.708.7 Trillion In The 2021 RAPBN

President Jokowi (photo: documentation of the MPR/DPR/DPD Annual Session)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) revealed that the government's budget set out in the draft state budget (RAPBN) 2022 is IDR 2.708.7 trillion.

"State spending in the 2022 RAPBN is planned at IDR 2.708.7 trillion. It includes central government spending of IDR 1.938.3 trillion as well as transfers to regions and village funds of IDR 770.4 trillion", he said in his introductory speech on the State Budget (APBN) Bill for the 2022 Fiscal Year along with Financial Note, Monday, August 16.

In this expenditure, said Jokowi, the health budget is planned at IDR 255.3 trillion or 9.4 percent of state spending. The budget will be directed towards continuing the handling of the pandemic, reforming the health system, accelerating stunting reduction, and continuing the JKN program.

Meanwhile, the government's focus for handling COVID-19 is anticipating the risk of the impact of COVID-19, by testing, tracing, and treatment, continuing the COVID-19 vaccination program, as well as strengthening socialization and supervision of health protocols.

"We must be able to take advantage of the pandemic as momentum for improvement and reform of the Indonesian health system. We must be able to build our own vaccine production and encourage the development of a strong and competitive pharmaceutical industry", he said.

Then, the social protection budget was allocated IDR 427.5 trillion to help the poor and vulnerable meet their basic needs. In the long term, this program is expected to be able to cut the chain of poverty.

To increase the productivity and quality of human resources, the government has prepared an education budget of IDR 541.7 trillion. Jokowi said that human resource development remains a priority agenda. Because Indonesia must be able to take advantage of the demographic bonus and be ready to face technological disruption.

"We must prepare human resources that are productive, innovative, and globally competitive while still practicing the values of Pancasila, having noble character, and maintaining the cultural identity of the nation", he said.

Then, infrastructure development is budgeted at IDR 384.8 trillion. Infrastructure development is directed to support strengthening the provision of basic services; support increased productivity through connectivity and mobility infrastructure.

Then, the budget is also to provide energy and food infrastructure that is affordable, reliable and pays attention to environmental aspects, as well as equitable distribution of infrastructure and access to Information and Communication Technology.

"To support the target of infrastructure development, the strategy of combining the budget with the funding mix or blended finance will continue to be carried out", he said.

In addition, Jokowi said, in 2022, the budget for transfers to regions and village funds is planned at IDR 770.4 trillion. The budget will focus on, among other things, improving the quality of regional spending so that there is an acceleration in the improvement and distribution of welfare.