Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated that until July 2020, state spending grew by 1.3 percent year-on-year (yoy), reaching Rp1,252.4 trillion, from Rp1,236.3 trillion during the corresponding period last year.

Indrawati pointed out that the realization of Rp1,252.4 trillion was 45.7 percent of the changed state budget target of Rp2,739.2 trillion in the Presidential Decree (Perpres) 72 of 2020.

"State expenditures of Rp1,252.4 trillion are prioritized for handling COVID-19 and national economic recovery (PEN)," he remarked at a press conference for the National Budget in Jakarta, Tuesday.

Growth in state spending was supported by the central government spending of Rp793.6 trillion that rose by 4.2 percent, from Rp761.3 trillion during the corresponding period in 2019 and 40.2 percent of the state budget target change of Rp1,975.2 trillion in Perpres 72 of 2020.

Central government spending comprised realized ministry/ institution expenditure of Rp419.6 trillion, or 50.2 percent of the state budget amended target in Perpres 72 of 2020 of Rp836.4 trillion and non-ministry/institution expenditure of Rp374 trillion, or 32.8 percent of the targeted Rp1.138.9 trillion that grew by 9.5 percent.

Ministry/institution expenditure constituted personnel expenditure of Rp134.4 trillion, or 52.4 percent of the target of Rp256.6 trillion in Presidential Decree 72 of 2020 and a contraction of 10.5 percent yoy owing to changes in the holiday allowances (THR) payment policy and the 13th-month salary payment.

Goods spending of Rp121.4 trillion, or 44.7 percent of the target of Rp271.7 trillion in Perpres 72 of 2020, also contracted by 17 percent yoy that was influenced by policies of social restrictions and working from home.

Thus, passenger travel realization plunged by 62.8 percent, specifically from Rp21.5 trillion to Rp8 trillion and activities of goods handed over to the community also decreased by 22.1 percent, from Rp13.2 trillion, to Rp10.3 trillion.

"Expenditures for goods that are operational and non-operational in nature also decreased by 24.6 percent related to ministry/institution activities in the wake of no training and events," she stated.

Realized capital expenditure of Rp46.8 trillion, or a contraction of 3.3 percent, occurred due to project restructuring in the context of refocusing on handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Realization of social assistance spending reached Rp117 trillion, or 68.6 percent of the target of Rp170.7 trillion in Perpres 72 of 2020 and recorded a growth of 55.9 percent, one of the reasons being a change in the policy on the basic food card program or BPNT.

Meanwhile, realization of non-ministry/institution spending reached Rp374 trillion, or 32.8 percent of the target of Rp1,138.9 trillion in Perpres 72 of 2020, and was able to grow by 9.5 percent as compared to Rp341.4 trillion in July last year.

Furthermore, transfers to regions and village funds (TKDD) were realized at Rp458.8 trillion, or a contraction of 3.4 percent from Rp475.1 trillion during the corresponding period in 2019.

Realization of TKDD, which reached 60.1 percent of the target of Rp763.9 trillion in Perpres 72 of 2020, was supported by the realization of village funds that grew by 50.7 percent, specifically Rp47.9 trillion, while regional performance allowances (TKD) contracted 5.1 percent, or Rp410.9 trillion. Related news: Government targets Rp26.1 trillion of dividend receipts from SOEs
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Translator: Astrid F, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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