VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Around Rp81 trillion (US$5.6 billion) of the social protection budget has been realized as of March-end 2022, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati informed at the State Budget KiTA virtual press conference on Wednesday.

The amount includes the budget for the national economic recovery (PEN) social protection program, which has reached Rp22.6 trillion (US$1.57 billion), and the non-PEN or regular social protection program of Rp58.3 trillion (US$4.04 billion), she said.

The realization of PEN social protection spending through ministries/institutions (K/L), non-K/L, as well as the regional and village transfer fund program (TKDD) has reached Rp18.7 trillion (US$1.29 billion), Rp0.8 trillion (US$55.48 million), and Rp3.1 trillion (US$214.9 million), respectively, she informed.

The PEN social protection spending incl
udes Cooking Oil Cash Assistance (BLT) for 18.3 million families, Village BLT for 4.4 million families, and TKDD for 3.4 million families.

Meanwhile, the realization of non-PEN regular social protection expenditure through K/L and non-K/L has been pegged at Rp19.8 trillion (1.37 billion) and Rp38.5 trillion (US$2.67 billion), respectively.

The realization of social protection assistance expenditure through K/L has been carried out by the Social Affairs Ministry and Health Ministry.

The Social Affairs Ministry has disbursed the budget for the first stage of the Family Hope Program (PKH) for 10 million families and Basic Necessities Assistance Cards for 18.8 million families.

The budget has also been distributed by the Health Ministry to 83 million fund assistance recipients (PBI) of the National Health Insurance (JKN) program.

In addition, the budget has been used by the Education and Culture Ministry and the Religious Affairs Ministry for the Indonesia Smart Program (PIP) as well as the Indonesia Smart Cards (KIP) for College Students assistance for 11.9 million pupils and 608 thousand college students.

Meanwhile, the non-K/L social protection assistance has been used to provide subsidies for fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

"The assistance serves as a shock absorber against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising global commodity prices," the minister added.  (Antaranews)