Expenditure As of April 2020 Reaches Rp623.98 Trillion: Finance Ministry
The Government continues to maintain this year’s fiscal sustainability amid pressure from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Realization of the State Budget as of April 2020 is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a drop in revenue and an increase in expenditure requirements for handling the outbreak, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara.
State expenditure realization until the end of April 2020 stood at Rp623.98 trillion from the ceiling of the State Budget-Presidential Regulation Number 54 of 2020 carried out through the Central Government expenditure of Rp382.53 trillion.
“If we look at employee expenditure, it is relatively flat. The realization has reached Rp68 trillion. As of April 30, goods expenditure reached Rp52.9 trillion, a contraction of 18.8% compared to last year’s,” he said during the APBN KiTa Press Conference, May 2020 Edition through a teleconference, Wednesday (21/5).
According to the Deputy Minister, this condition indicates that ministries and agencies have begun to temporarily stop spending on goods for capital expenditure after the Central Government pushed for acceleration of contracts in January and February.
“This results in capital expenditure also becoming more robust. Realization up to April 30 of Rp20.7 trillion is higher than last year’s realization of Rp15.9 trillion,” he said.
The Government, he added, also pushed for social assistance expenditure particularly during large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) period to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Realization of Rp61.4 trillion, the Deputy Minister continued, is higher than last year of Rp54 trillion or an increase of 13.7% as part of the Government’s commitment to accelerate productive spending and protect the poor, vulnerable and most affected.
“We continue to encourage maintaining public consumption, particularly that of lower-middle class people,” the Deputy Minister said. (Ministry of Finance/EN)
Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas