TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has directed his ranks to distribute the COVID-19 handling Social Help Money, especially to beneficiaries of the Family Hope Program (PKH), already this week.
“Mr President this week ordered the accelerated disbursement of welfare payments for the third quarter, especially to PKH beneficiaries,” said Finance Minister Sri Mulyani after a Jokowi-chaired plenary session in Jakarta on Monday.
The head of state has asked the Ministry of Finance to postpone the payment of social assistance for the third quarter to PKH beneficiaries until July 2021 so that they can benefit from the benefits soon, noted Sri Mulyani.
In addition, the President expressed the hope that the target group of recipients of cards for basic needs would increase from 15.93 million to 18.8 million.
“In July 2021, monetary aid will be paid to 10 million beneficiary families for two consecutive months,” she noted.
The president is also keen to see the number of beneficiary families receiving Rural Cash Aid (BLT) increase from five million previously to eight million.
Jokowi also ordered the implementation of the second phase of construction Social support for pre-purchase card recipients in July 2021.
In addition, the government will continue to offer Internet quota support to 27.67 million students, teachers and faculty.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also the coordinator for the implementation of Emergency Restrictions on Public Activities (PPKM) for Java and Bali, said at an online press conference on Thursday that the Social support Money is intended to provide financial relief for people on low incomes, especially if the emergency PPKM is in effect from July 3 to July 20, 2021.
“With the help, their suffering will not increase. It is very important to know. The president’s instructions are loud and clear. So do not let people suffer any further,” said the minister.
Luhut stated that the Emergency PPKM will be implemented in counties and cities rated Level 4 for the pandemic situation and in 74 counties and cities at Level 3 in Java and Bali. The criteria relate to the World Health Organization (WHO) indicator based on transmission rate and responsiveness, he stressed.
Also read: Emergency PPKM; This week the government welfare will be paid out
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