The APBN is under pressure, but Alhamdulillah, we have been maintaining a sound APBNJakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlighted the government’s relentless efforts to ensure that the State Budget (APBN) remained healthy despite the pressure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The APBN is under pressure, but Alhamdulillah, we have been maintaining a sound APBN. Hence, when we have to face COVID-19, we are in a healthy condition," the minister noted at The Asset Manager 2020 Grand Final here on Tuesday.
A sound APBN is crucial to help assuage the impact of the pandemic and support the community and businesses to survive.
In the health field, the APBN has functioned to offer funding for COVID-19 tests, tracing, treatment, incentives for medical personnel, provision of personal protection equipment (PPE), medicines, and ventilator devices, she pointed out.
The APBN also offers support to people facing this pandemic. Thus, over 37 million families have received direct assistance in the form of cash or basic necessities.
It also helps over 35 million families through 50-100 percent discounts in electricity bills, and more than 20 million employees, with incomes below Rp5 million to receive subsidized wages, including for honorary teachers.
Furthermore, the APBN supports the mandated online learning and teaching activities for students and teachers, so that free Internet is provided to over 50 million students, teachers, and lecturers.
Furthermore, the APBN has helped more than 20 million MSMEs by providing productive assistance and relaxing installment payments.
The APBN deficit until the end of October 2020 had reached Rp764.9 trillion or 4.67 percent of the Presidential Decree 72 of 2020 target of Rp1,039 trillion, or 6.34 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This is due to the realization of state revenue that was recorded at only Rp1,276.9 trillion until October and lower than the realization of expenditure that had reached Rp2,041.8 trillion.
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Translator: Astrid FH, Fardah
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
