Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) affirmed that the government would continue to distribute social assistance to beneficiaries despite community activity restrictions (PPKM) being lifted.

"I must say that people do not need to worry regarding the revocation of PPKM. The government will continue to provide social assistance in 2023," he stated at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Friday.

During the PPKM period in the COVID-19 pandemic, the government had provided several forms of social assistance -- Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT), Family Hope Program (PKH), and Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) -- to the community affected by the pandemic.

Jokowi remarked that vitamin and medicine assistance would still be available at government-appointed health facilities. In addition, several types of incentives, such as tax incentives, will still be applied.

"Several tax incentives and others will also continue," he stated.

Earlier, the president announced the revocation of the policy of imposing restrictions on community activities. He emphasized that there were no more restrictions on crowds and people's movements.

Before PPKM was revoked, all districts and cities in Indonesia were on PPKM level 1 status. The government had been studying the determination of PPKM status for 10 months.

"Through considerations based on the available figures, today, the government has decided to revoke the PPKM contained in the Minister of Home Affairs Instructions Numbers 50 and 51 of 2022," Jokowi remarked.

The head of state explained that Indonesia has become a successful country in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and was also able to maintain economic stability. This condition was due to the gas and brake policy that balances the handling of health and the economy.

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Translator: Indra Arief P, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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