JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission XI Fathan Subchi proposed that various government projects not related to handling the pandemic be suspended or postponed. The goal is for the government to focus on dealing with COVID-19.
"The current situation cannot be carried out with a business as usual policy. This handling requires a lot of resources and we should focus there," said Fathan, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, July 21.
According to him, handling the pandemic and its impact should be a top priority so that projects that are not related to handling the pandemic, such as the plan to build a new capital city, should be postponed.
Fathan said the diversion of the budget for these projects would have a significant impact on the government's steps in maintaining public health and economic recovery because at this time, there were dangers in sight that must be resolved.
Fathan also believes that the implementation of PPKM should be tightened in order to overcome the surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens long-term economic recovery opportunities.
"We must not be late in taking strategic steps. Only three things are needed, stop projects that are not related to handling the pandemic, tighten Emergency PPKM, and build a community food industry," he said.
Previously reported, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the budget for handling COVID-19 and national economic recovery (PEN) would be increased to Rp744.7 trillion from the original budget ceiling of Rp699.4 trillion.
"For the program to handle COVID-19 and PEN, now with the decision that was approved by the President, it will increase to Rp. 744.75 trillion," Sri Mulyani said, Saturday, July 17 evening.
In the budget for handling COVID-19 and PEN (PC-PEN), Sri Mulyani explained that the budget for social protection programs would increase to Rp. 187.84 trillion from Rp. 153.86 trillion.
Then, the health program will be increased again to Rp214.95 trillion from the previous Rp172 trillion. Meanwhile, other programs in PC-PEN, said the Minister of Finance, are still in the budget allocation, which is not much different after the evaluation of the ongoing program.
"For business incentives of IDR 62.83 trillion, MSMEs fell slightly because they were more on credit for working capital guarantees, but not cash assistance. And, other priority programs remained at IDR 117.94 trillion. So, PEN funds and handling COVID-19 rose from Rp699.43 trillion to Rp744.75 trillion," he said.
Previously, Deputy III for the Economy of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Panutan S Sulendrakusuma said the handling of COVID-19 in the country must be "Total Football", meaning that all levels of society must move together to end the corona virus pandemic.
The role model said the COVID-19 pandemic was a new experience felt by all people in the world. Therefore, all levels of society must lend a hand to help overcome this pandemic.
The government, he said, could not work alone and needed the participation of all parties in accordance with their respective capacities to complement each other.
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