Early April Shows Highest 2022 PEN Realization for Community Protection

By April 1, 2022, the government had realized Rp29.3 trillion (approximately US$2 billion) of the National Economic Recovery (PEN) budget.

This realization reached 6.4% of the total PEN 2022 budget, which amounted to Rp455.62 trillion (approximately US$31 billion).

According to an official statement from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on Monday (April 4), during the first quarter of this year, the PEN budget was mostly realized for community protection, namely Rp22.74 trillion (approximately US$1.5 billion) or 14.7% of its total allocation.

The PEN budget for community protection was specifically used for social assistance (bansos), including the Family Hope Program (PKH), Sembako Card, Pre-Employment Card, Village Direct Cash Assistance (BLT), and Cash Assistance for Street Vendors, Warungs, and Fishermen (PKLWN).

Next, the 2022 PEN realization for strengthening economic recovery reached Rp5.02 trillion (approximately US$340 million) or 2.8% of its total allocation.

In the economic strengthening group, the PEN budget was mainly used for tourism support programs, food, subsidies or risk-sharing premiums (IJP) for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and tax incentives.

Finally, the 2022 PEN realization for health handling amounted to Rp1.55 trillion (approximately US$100 million) or 1.3% of its total allocation. The PEN budget in this group was mainly used for tax incentives for vaccines and medical equipment, as well as handling Covid-19 through Village Funds.

According to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, the 2022 PEN budget will also be used for the Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) program.

“Based on the President's instructions, the Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU) Program will continue to be finalized to be given to 8.8 million workers with salaries less than Rp3.5 million (approximately US$230), and this will be announced soon,” said Coordinating Minister Airlangga in his press statement on Monday (April 4).

(Also Read: [2022 PEN Budget, Largest for Economic Strengthening](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/04/05/anggaran-pen-2022-terbesar-untuk-penguatan-ekonomi))