Gov’t to Optimize Data Utilization for Social Security Programs

President Jokowi chairs a limited cabinet meeting on management of socio-economic registration data at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/24). (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered Government officials to optimize the use of socio-economic registration (Regsosek) data to provide social assistance for communities.

“The data should be used in social protection programs, including regular social assistance, namely the PKH [family hope program], BPNT [non-cash food assistance], subsidies and other social security programs. We will continue to use the existing data. We will also use the data for community empowerment in labor-intensive programs, for MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises), for human capital development, and in social convergence programs,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said after attending a limited cabinet meeting on management of socio-economic registration data at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (10/24).

Airlangga went on to say that the Government would issue a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) regarding socio-economic registration data prepared by data stakeholders, namely Ministry of Finance and the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), and the data will be updated regularly.

According to Airlangga, President Jokowi also ordered Government officials to continue implementing the food assistance program in the form of rice until December. The Government will also issue a policy to cover value added tax (VAT) on purchases of houses or property with the price lower than Rp2 billion.

“The President stated that the Government-borne VAT program should be implemented for purchases of houses or property with the price lower than Rp2 billion, and the Government will cover 100% of the VAT until June next year. After June, 50% percent of the VAT will be borne by the Government,” he said.

The Coordinating Minister further said that the Government would also provide administrative assistance for low-income households.

“The administrative assistance will cover the BPHTB (Land and Building Rights Acquisition Fee) and other fees. The Government will cover Rp4 million out of 13.3 million fee [per transaction] until 2024,” he remarked. (FID/UN) (RI/MMB)