Jokowi Opens Data On Social Assistance Funds Until Village BLT Is Still Slightly Disbursed: Issued Soon, People Wait

President Joko Widodo (PHOTO via Youtube Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) opened data on social assistance funds to village cash assistance (BLT) which had only been distributed slightly. Jokowi asked for accelerated distribution to help the people during the pandemic.

"The next field action is to accelerate social assistance and accelerate regional spending. I see the numbers, this relates to MSME funds, social assistance funds, village funds. The data I received was that the MSME budget was Rp. 13.3 trillion. We will see for all regions, 514 districts, cities and provinces. (Out of) Rp. 13.3 trillion that was used, only Rp. 2.3 trillion, even though we really need it, the people really need the people to wait. I ask for this to be issued immediately," Jokowi said in a virtual briefing to regional heads throughout Indonesia which was broadcast via the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Monday, July 19.

Jokowi also mentioned that the social protection budget was Rp. 12.1 trillion, with the realization of only Rp. 2.3 trillion.

"There is not yet 20 percent of everything, there are people waiting for this.

This village fund is Rp. 72 trillion, the total used (for) village BLT is Rp. 28 trillion, but the realization, which is used at Rp. 5.6 trillion, is also less than 25 percent. This is what I ask all to speed up. With this condition, the public is waiting for the acceleration of the budget," Jokowi continued.

In his directive to regional heads, Jokowi admitted that he had heard the aspiration for easing economic activities related to emergency PPKM and micro PPKM. But easing can only be done if COVID-19 cases are low.

“I understand that there are people's aspirations so that social and economic activities can be relaxed. This kind of thing can be done if cases of transmission are low if chronic cases entering the hospital are also low," Jokowi said in a virtual briefing to regional heads throughout Indonesia which was broadcast via the Presidential Secretariat Youtube, Monday. July 19.

If the easing is carried out in a condition where COVID-19 cases are still high, Jokowi is worried that health facilities will collapse

“Imagine if the restrictions were relaxed, then the cases would rise again, and then the hospital would not be able to accommodate the existing patients. This will also cause our health facilities to collapse. Be careful with this too," he said.

Therefore, Jokowi asked regional heads to move in the field with strong commands down to the sub-district and village levels. It must be ensured that the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, especially the massive discipline of health protocols (prokes), is carried out.

"And most importantly, if the discipline of health protocols can be guaranteed, especially maintaining distance and masks. The only two keys are now accelerating vaccination, the second is discipline, the main process is masks, wearing masks," Jokowi continued.