Deputy Minister Of Finance: 2.87 Million Families Receive Benefits Of Village BLT As Of August 24, 2023

Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) RI Suahasil Nazara. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Minister of Finance (Wamenkeu) of the Republic of Indonesia Suahasil Nazara said as many as 2.87 million beneficiary families (KPM) enjoyed Village Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) as of August 24, 2023.

"As of August 24, the BLT from the Village Fund has been enjoyed by 2.87 million beneficiary families, so part of the Village Fund can be used for direct assistance to the community," said Suahasil at the Working Meeting of Committee IV DPD RI, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, September 6.

BLT Desa is expected to complete central programs such as the Family Hope Program (PKH) and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT).

The Deputy Minister of Finance said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Village Fund allocation for Village BLT reached up to 40 percent of the Village Fund. Furthermore, currently, the Village Fund Allocation for Village BLT is a maximum of 25 percent of the Village Fund ceiling.

"From the Village Funds that can be used for direct assistance now to 25 percent, it is up to the village to determine where and we hope that the village will then carry out a musrenbang, there are really activities where there are community elections that are deemed appropriate to receive them," he said.

He said the distribution of Village Funds was continuously carried out and monitored so that Village Funds could be optimally beneficial for the people of Indonesia.

Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil also said that the 2023 Physical Special Allocation Fund (DAK) ceiling was IDR 53.4 trillion. The planned activities proposed in 2023 are IDR 52.67 trillion or almost 99 percent of the ceiling, while the overall contract value of the activity plan is IDR 50.57 trillion.

"Based on this contract, we distribute it and what has been distributed until July 31, 2023 is 13.6 percent. For distribution requires channel requirements, first there is a contract, second there is progress," he said.

Physical DAK is a fund allocated in the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget to certain regions with the aim of helping to fund physical special activities which are regional affairs and in accordance with national priorities.

The aims of distributing Physical DAK include accelerating the provision of public infrastructure and strengthening the quality of human resources (HR), especially through the fields of education, health, drinking water, social protection, and inter-regional connectivity.

In addition, increasing competitiveness through innovation, ease of doing business, governance, and incentive policies that support the investment climate; as well as increasing productivity, especially export-oriented through the development of regional economic potential.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Non-Physical DAK allocation is worth IDR 130.3 trillion for 16 types of funds. Usually these funds are used, among others, for school operational assistance, health operational assistance, and teacher professional allowances.

Non-physical DAK is a DAK allocated to assist in the operation of regional public services whose use has been determined by the government.