Gov’t to Increase 2019 PKH Budget

Minister of Social Affairs Agus G. Kartasasmita on the Distribution of PKH Social Assistance and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) at Cibonong, Bogor Regency, West Java, Friday (22/2) (Photo by: Anggun/Public Relations).

The Indonesian Government has increased the budget allocation for the Family Hope Program (PKH), from Rp19.2 trillion in 2018 to Rp34.4 trillion in 2019.

“The increase is in line with the change of assistance scheme which was originally flat to be non-flat,” Minister of Social Affairs Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said when delivering his report at the Distribution of PKH Social Assistance and Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) at Cibonong, Bogor Regency, West Java, Friday (22/2).

The Minister also said that the PKH Social Assistance index in 2019 is adjusted to meet every family’s needs on health, education and social welfare.

According to the Minister, in 2019 the PKH social assistance will no longer be distributed in February, May, August and November. It will be distributed in January, April, July and October instead.

He added that national realization of the PKH social assistance distribution phase one as of 21 February 2019 reached 99.72%.

Moreover, Agus said that the conversion of rice social assistance to Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) has been expanded from 10.3 million beneficiary families to 15.6 million beneficiary families. “The Bill Gates Foundation survey results released in mid-January stated that 95 percent of BPNT beneficiaries were satisfied with the implementation of the BPNT program,” he said, adding that the beneficiaries also think that the BPNT is better in every aspect compared to the rice social assistance.

The Minister further said that in President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo administration, the assistance is paid cashless through the Prosperous Family Card (KKS).

The event was attended by 1,900 participants, consisting of PKH group leaders, 500 representatives from 40 sub-districts in Bogor Regency, 1,000 PKH beneficiaries from five sub-districts in Bogor Regency namely Babakan Madang, Bojong Gede, Cibinong, Citeureup, and Sukamakmur, as well as 413 PKH beneficiaries from Bogor Regency. (EN/GUN/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Mia Medyana