Jakarta, TheIndonesiaPost – President Joko Widodo considered that the absorption of the stimulus budget for handling Covid-19 was still not optimal. The budget of Rp.695 trillion must be absorbed quickly to overcome the further spread of the pandemic and its impacts.
This was conveyed by the President when giving direction to the Covid-19 Handling Committee and National Economic Recovery through a limited meeting held through a video conference from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. (7/27).
“The latest data I received on July 22, from the total stimulus handling by Covid amounted to Rp.695 trillion, only Rp136 trillion has been realized, meaning only 19 percent,” he said.
The president then detailed the budget absorption which included 38 percent in the social protection sector, 25 percent in MSMEs, 7 percent in the health sector, and 13 percent in the business sector. Likewise, support for sectoral and local governments has also only absorbed 6.5 percent.
“This must be resolved immediately by the Committee by making breakthrough steps, working faster, so that the absorption of the budget that was not optimal was really immediately resolved,” he said.
The Head of State reminded that if regulatory and administrative issues become obstacles to the absorption of the budget, the regulation must be revised so that there will be speed in managing the budget handling of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Make improvements and don’t let there be sectoral egos or regional egos. I think it is very important that this be resolved immediately so that the aura in dealing with this crisis really exists, “he said. (smn / bbs)
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