New PC-PEN Budget 72.6% Absorbed by the End of 2022, This is the Cluster with the Largest Realization

The Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) recorded that the budget realization for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (PC-PEN) reached Rp330.7 trillion from January 1 to December 9, 2022. This figure is equivalent to 72.6% of the allocated budget of Rp455.62 trillion.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani stated that the PC-PEN realization was dominated by the community protection cluster, reaching Rp148.2 trillion or 95.8% of the allocated budget of Rp154.76 trillion.

"The dominance for PC-PEN remains in community protection, as this is to protect the people from the threat of COVID-19 and various economic shocks," said Sri Mulyani in a press conference on APBN KITA, Tuesday (December 20).

In detail, the community protection cluster consists of the realization of Fuel Oil Direct Cash Assistance (BLT BBM) of Rp12.6 trillion for 20.7 million Beneficiary Families (KPM), the Family Hope Program (PKH) amounting to Rp28.6 trillion for 10 million KPM, and cash assistance for Street Vendors and Warungs (PKLW) Fishermen of Rp1.3 trillion for 2.1 million people.

Then, the realization of Cooking Oil BLT was Rp7 trillion for 23.9 million KPM, Village Fund BLT Rp26 trillion for 7.5 million KPM, assistance for people with disabilities, orphans, and the elderly Rp114.4 billion for 400,000 people, Pre-Employment Card Rp18 trillion for 5.1 million people, and Staple Food Card Rp43.9 trillion for 18.8 million KPM.

Next, the PC-PEN realization was also given to the health cluster amounting to Rp54.2 trillion or 44.2% of the allocated budget of Rp122.54 trillion. According to Sri Mulyani, the low realization is in line with the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases.

"(The realization) is good and not underperforming, but because the health condition and the COVID-19 problem have begun to be controlled very well, so spending on handling COVID-19 has experienced a very sharp decrease," said Sri Mulyani.

The details include the realization of the health cluster consisting of COVID-19 handling expenditure, including patient claims of Rp27.6 trillion for 2021 arrears to 319,613 patients and 2022 payments for 255,535 patients, vaccination of Rp2.9 trillion for 60.1 million doses, and research of Rp205.1 billion.

Then, there is the realization of incentives or allowances for central and regional health workers amounting to Rp3.4 trillion, health tax incentives of Rp1.8 trillion, and support from the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) for pandemic handling in villages and regions amounting to Rp15.1 trillion.

In addition, PC-PEN was also provided for the economic recovery cluster amounting to Rp128.4 trillion or reaching 72% of the allocated budget of Rp178.32 trillion. This realization was given for labor-intensive programs of Rp18.4 trillion, food security of Rp31.2 trillion, UMKM support of Rp24 trillion, and business or tax incentives of Rp16.7 trillion.