People shop for food at a market in Aceh - westernmost province of Indonesia. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian government plans tospend 476 trillion Rp (31.8 billion USD) on social assistance protectionas the country is transitioning from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic disease phase.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said that hisgovernment will not abruptly revoke the massive spending on social programmesaimed at helping the people and businesses cope with the devastating economicimpact of the pandemic over the last three years.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the National Committee forCOVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (PC-PEN), Joko Widodo said thatafter lifting restrictions at the end of 2022, Indonesia is in an interim phasein which it must maintain caution, especially in deciding on economic measures.
In contrast to other nations that have recently experienced high inflation, according to the President, Indonesia has effectively demonstrated tenacitythrough 2022 with economic growth of 5.72% in the third quarter of 2022compared to the same period in the previous year.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said the 476trillion Rp budget will be used to fundvarious social programmes such as affordable staple food supplies, cashassistance for low-income families, and job creation.
To preserve people's purchasing power during the transitionphase and to safeguard the underprivileged and other vulnerable groups, thegovernment will continue to carry out this initiative.
Indonesia’ government also allocates 178.7 trillion Rp for healthcare programmes to be channeledthrough the Health Ministry, the Drug and Food Supervisory Agency (BPOM), andthe National Population and Family Planning Agency./.
