(The budget funds) for the COVID-19 handling and PEN program will increase to Rp744.75 trillion, in accordance with the decision agreed upon by Mr. President.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has decided to raise the budget for the COVID-19 handling and national economic recovery (PEN) program to Rp744.7 trillion from the initial ceiling of Rp699.4 trillion, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.



"(The budget funds) for the COVID-19 handling and PEN program will increase to Rp744.75 trillion, in accordance with the decision agreed upon by Mr. President," she informed at an online press conference in Jakarta on Saturday night.



The minister said the budget allocation for the social protection program will increase to Rp187.84 trillion from Rp153.86 trillion, while the allocation for the health program will rise to Rp214.95 trillion from Rp172 trillion earlier.



Budget allocations for other programs are still being considered, but their amount will not be far different from the initially ceiling, based on the evaluation of the ongoing programs, the minister added.


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"(The budget funds) for business incentives are pegged at Rp62.83 trillion, while those for MSMEs will fall slightly because they will be focused on credit for working capital insurance, instead of cash assistance. (The budget funds) for other priority programs will remain unchanged at Rp117.94 trillion. So, the budget funds for PEN and COVID-19 handling program will increase from Rp699.43 trillion to Rp744.75 trillion," Indrawati said.



With the change in the budget funding for COVID-19 handling and PEN program, there will be an increase of Rp55.2 trillion in the allocation, she noted.



"We will refocus (the state budget) to check and comb budget funds at ministries and institutions as well as regional governments so they can all be directed towards helping people handle COVID-19 and the business world recover," she remarked.


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Translator: Indra Arief P, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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