The PKT program involves Rp12.32 trillion, with the target of 638,990 beneficiaries. By August 29, 2020, the realization of PKT program reached Rp7.16 trillion, or nearly 58.14 percent of the total. The number of workers absorbed reached 402,449 or
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Public Works and Housing Ministry claimed that 402,449 workers were employed through the cash labor-intensive (PKT) program by the end of August, constituting 62.98 percent of the targeted 638,990 beneficiaries.

"The allocated funding for PKT program reaches Rp12.32 trillion for the targeted 638,990 beneficiaries. By August 29, 2020, Rp7.16 trillion, or nearly 58.14 percent of the total was realized for the PKT program, with the number of workers absorbed reaching 402,449, or 62.98 percent," Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono noted in a written statement released on Tuesday.

The ministry's budget allocations for the program are expected to help placate the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the people, including lowering the unemployment rate and boosting the public’s purchasing power, he expounded.

Hadimuljono noted that the PKT program, implemented in 23,392 locations across Indonesia, was one of the ministry's priorities.

By the end of August 2020, the realization of budget funding at the ministry had reached Rp41.17 trillion, constituting 48.13 percent of the budget ceiling of Rp85.70 trillion, he stated.

The budget ceiling for the ministry had earlier been set at Rp120.2 trillion. However, the government reallocated Rp44.58 trillion of that figure to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, he noted.

In further developments, the ministry had obtained an additional ceiling of Rp1.67 trillion to support the national economic recovery (PEN) program, national priority program, food estate development, and industrial estate development.

Furthermore, it received additional ceiling from the launch of foreign loans and grants of state sharia-compliant bonds worth Rp84.02 trillion.

"We allocated Rp1.362 trillion of the Rp1.67 trillion for the national economic recovery, Rp188 billion for national priority programs, and Rp125 billion for food estate development in Central Kalimantan and industrial estate development," he remarked.

By the end of August 2020, the realization of budget funding at the ministry reached Rp41.17 trillion, or 48.13 percent of the ceiling of Rp85.70 trillion for the budget year 2020. Meanwhile, the physical progress of the programs reached 48.15 percent. Related news: Cash labor-intensive program in water resource absorbs 163,003 workers
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Translator: Aji Cakti/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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