VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government claims that the absorption of the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program has shown improvement.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that the absorption of the PEN program funds amounted to Rp 237 trillion or 34.1 percent of the total PEN budget ceiling of Rp 695.2 trillion.

"Absorption is 34.1 percent of the year's Rp. 695 trillion. And by month to month, there is an increase of 30.9 percent," Airlangga said in a virtual press statement, in Jakarta, on Monday.

Airlangga claimed that there was an increase in budget absorption in several sectors. Namely, in the health sector 31.6 percent, social protection 62.81 percent, regional government sectoral 27.68 percent, and MSMEs 91.43 percent.

"And the first semester to the second semester in September, the absorption trend has increased by Rp237 trillion," said Airlangga.

Airlangga, who is also the Head of the Committee for Handling Covid-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), said there were increases in other sectors without mentioning the amount of budget absorption.

Airlangga also said that the government continues to push for the realization of the budget and push through tourism incentives. This budget will stream to the vaccine program.

"The President said to channel tourism incentives budget to independent vaccine procurement when the clinical trial is over," Airlangga said. (RRI)