Until the system is built and the data being used is still inaccurate, we will continue to be plagued by problems related to social aid distribution.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Availability of accurate data on social aid recipients will speed up the distribution of the aid, Indonesia's Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Research Director Piter Abdullah stated.

According to Abdullah, social aid distribution was not optimal up until this point and can only be hastened if the government were to build a system based on accurate data.

"As long as the system is not built yet and the data being used is still inaccurate, we will continue to be plagued by problems related to social aid distribution," Abdullah noted when contacted by ANTARA here on Monday.

The government is distributing social aid to the people in order to lower the impact of the Emergency Community Activity Restriction (PPKM) implemented to stem the spread of COVID-19 infection.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan spoke of the government distributing additional social aid worth around Rp39.9 trillion.

Pandjaitan also stated that President Jokowi had ordered Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini to immediately distribute the additional social aid.

As compared to a total lockdown, Abdullah opined that the Emergency PPKM would have a lesser negative impact on the economy. Despite the negative impacts, the government, in the end, has to prioritize public health over and above the economy, he emphasized.

However, once the number of COVID-19 cases begin to decline, Abdullah is confident that the economy will rise at the same time as the discontinuation of Emergency PPKM.

"Hence, the impact of Emergency PPKM on the economy is very big. Emergency PPKM lowers consumption and production. On the other hand, however, Emergency PPKM had decreased the number of infections, and once Emergency PPKM is discontinued, the economy will rise again," he expounded.

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Translator: Sanya Susanti, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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