Gov’t Provides Social Assistance amidst Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak

Minister of Social Affairs delivers statement at an online press conference, Tuesday (7/4). Photo by: Rahmat/PR

The Government has been implementing several safety net programs amidst the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, according to Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara. The programs, the Minister said, are as follows:

First, the Family Hope Program (PKH). The beneficiaries of the program have increased from 9.2 million beneficiary families to 10 million beneficiary families, with an increase in the index of approximately 25%.

Second, Non-Cash Food Assistance program. The beneficiaries of the program have increased from 15 million to 20 million families.

“We always implement social distancing or physical distancing policy when the beneficiary families receive staple food at the available e-warung,” the Minister said.

The Minister went on to say that there are also several other programs to be implemented in the near future:

First, the special social assistance for residents of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) area. The beneficiaries will receive staple food with the value of Rp600,000 per family per month with a duration of three months.

“We use the data available in our Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS) and additional data from local governments, including data from Jakarta government that we received yesterday,” the Minister said.

Second, Cash Assistance Program (BLT) for three months with an index of Rp600,000 per family per month.

“The beneficiaries of the program are all families listed in our integrated data that have not received social assistance such as the PKH (Family Hope Program), the BPNT (Non-Cash Food Assistance Program) or pre-employment card,” the Minister added.

“We will start the programs as soon as possible,” Juliari said, adding that the Government will provide 200,000 packages of staple food to fill the gap until the implementation of the aforementioned programs.  (MAY/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana