DPR Agrees With The Government To Reallocate A Budget For Handling COVID-19

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Maharani. (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - The number of positive patients with the corona virus or COVID-19 in Indonesia continues to grow. Meanwhile, accelerating the response to the outbreak requires large funds to procure medical equipment and infrastructure for both prevention and treatment. Therefore, the DPR supports the government's steps to reallocate the state budget.

Chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani, said that the reallocation of the state budget was certainly in accordance with the government's authority given and contained in the 2020 State Budget Law.

"The budget should be used for the procurement of tools and facilities for screening for free mass COVID-19 tests, additional personal protective equipment for health workers, additional hospital facilities, free treatment for corona patients, and efforts to prevent the spread of the virus," said Puan, in a written statement received by VOI, in Jakarta, Monday, March 23.

On the other hand, regarding the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, the DPR asked the government to prioritize it on strengthening people's purchasing power. Reallocation of the state budget can be directed at programs to strengthen the purchasing power of people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Especially those who have lost their income due to social distancing policies, as well as providing incentives for health workers involved in handling the corona outbreak," he said.

Not only that, Puan also reminded the government to anticipate high inflation rates, especially due to the soaring prices for basic necessities and medical devices related to the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

"The government through the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Health, Bulog and BUMN needs to coordinate to increase the strength of food stocks and personal protective medical devices due to the increase in demand and purchase of these goods," he explained.

In addition, according to Puan, the government must coordinate with Bank Indonesia to reduce the weakening of the rupiah. In addition to effective monetary policy, measured and credible government measures in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak will strengthen market confidence. So that it can reduce the fall in the rupiah exchange rate.

"The DPR, through related commissions, will supervise the use of the reallocation of the budget so that its use is in accordance with the corona virus prevention program and its economic impact mitigation program," he said.

Previously, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in a limited meeting (Ratas) together with the Cabinet Secretary (Seskab), Pramono Anung instructed refocusing and reallocation in the State Budget (APBN) and Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) expenditures.

"I have asked to focus on only three things, namely the first in the health sector, especially in efforts to control COVID-19. Second, the social safety net, this is social assistance. The third is related to economic incentives for businesses and MSMEs. producing and avoiding layoffs, "he said, in a video conference, Friday, March 20.

Realizing the impact of COVID-19 not only on the health sector but also on the national economic sector, Jokowi asked all ministers and local governments to cut the APBN and APBD spending plans that were not priority.

"A lot of these are not prioritized to cut first. I ask for official travel budgets, meeting spending, purchases of non-priority goods. Once again, I ask, I instruct both ministries, regional governments, governors, regents, mayors to do this. the same thing, "he said.