There are four priority continuation programs for social assistance
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo’s administration is working to ensure that the distribution of social assistance, as part of national economic recovery (PEN) in the wake of COVID-19, continues next year.



Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, after a plenary cabinet meeting on 'Health Management and Economic Recovery for Strengthening Reforms in 2021’, led by President Joko Widodo at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, said the government has agreed to continue giving priority to several social assistance programs next year.



"There are four priority continuation programs for social assistance," he stated.



The four programs cover presidential cash assistance for micro, small, and medium enterprises; assistance for salary subsidies, which will be continued in the first quarter of next year; pre-employment cards; and, cash social assistance in the form of family hope program (PKH) and provision of groceries.



He added that the programs are aimed at maintaining people's purchasing power amid the pandemic situation.



"Related to the programs running from PEN are the PKH program, basic needs for both Jabodetabek (greater Jakarta) area and cash in non-Jabodetabek areas, pre-employment cards, electricity discounts, logistics, village cash assistance, cooperative investment through LPDB KUMKM, and assistance for BPUM micro-entrepreneurs," the minister noted.



During the cabinet meeting, it was also agreed that specifically for next year, the priority or superior program will be continued, including the procurement of vaccines, he added.



According to the Coordinating Minister, several companies have thus far prepared their vaccine to a certain stage.



“(The vaccines include) The Red and White Vaccine, (which is being) developed by the Ministry of Research and Technology together with the Eijkman Institute, Bio Farma has collaborated with Sinovac to prepare 290 million (doses) and the United Arab Emirates' G-42 will prepare 30 million (doses of the COVID-19 vaccine) this year, and the government has set aside Rp3.8 trillion (for) next year, and (its) multi-year (allocation will be to the tune) of Rp37 trillion," he said.



In addition, the Ministry of Health will also prepare the mobilization of vaccines, which is expected to start early next year, with the procurement of 30 million vaccines at the end of this year, he informed. (INE)


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