Gov’t Unveils Three Strategies to Combat COVID-19

Social Safety Net Scheme presented in a press statement, Friday (8/5).

The Government has announced that it is preparing three strategies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, namely measures to tackle public health emergency, building social safety net, and building economic resilience.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy on Friday (8/5) made his press statement with the following points:

First, focusing on health sector that directly confronts the COVID-19 outbreak.

“The health sector is dealing with public health emergency which requires those in the sector  to overcome the outbreak, curb the disease transmission, reduce the spread, and speed up the recovery process against COVID-19,” the Minister said.

According to the Minister, the health sector is under his domain in Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, considering that the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and Ministry of health have the biggest responsibility for the health sector.

“The BNPB plays a significant role in providing facilities and infrastructure supports in the health sector, while Ministry of Health is responsible for surveillance tracking wherever the disease carrier goes and prioritizes COVID-19 patients,” Muhadjir said.

Second, social safety net program to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are two ministries under the coordination of Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, namely Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration,” the Minister said.

The health sector, Muhadjir continued, is on the right track now and it can be seen with the current condition of COVID-19 in Indonesia.

“Therefore, Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture is paying close attention to social safety net programs,” he added.

According to Muhadjir, large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) imposed in several areas, especially in areas surrounding Jakarta, has been followed by social aid distribution for those who are in dire need of a social safety net.

“The Government has provided social safety net programs for those who are in the Social Affairs Ministry’s Integrated Data on Social Welfare (DTKS). They have received regular social aids,” Muhadjir said.

Muhadjir further said that there are also other forms of social aid and cash transfers for those who are not listed in the database.

“(It includes) the people who are experiencing financial shock of the pandemic. We will track down those who are not on the list, verify the beneficiary’ data. And they will be confirmed to receive the social aid,” the Minister said.

Third, economic survivability, which is in the domain of Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and relevant ministries under his coordination.

“I call it “economic survivability” because the Government is working hard to survive the severe economic slowdown,” Muhadjir added.

On that occasion, Muhadjir cited Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s statement, saying that the world has started the phase of hibernation of economy.

“That is the current condition of the world’s economy as presented by Scott Morrison in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) session. We want to do the same thing, which is to conduct the country’s economic survivability. Afterwards, we will carry out economic recovery,” Muhadjir added.

According to Muhadjir, the Government has also provided Pre-employment Card program under the domain of Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and other programs that have been routinely implemented by Ministry of Social Affairs.

“The number of recipients of the staple-food program which was initially at 15.2 million has been raised to 20 million beneficiaries. In the Family Hope program, the total number of beneficiaries has increased from 9.2 million to 10 million beneficiaries. The Government also provides village cash assistance and free or discounted electricity,” Muhadjir said.

“There are 12,3 million families for Village Direct Cash Assistance worth Rp600,000 per month for three-month assistance. As many as 9 million families included in the Ministry of Social Affairs’ list will receive Rp600,000 per month from the President’s aid,” Muhadjir added.

Muhadjir went on to say that staple-food distribution for 1.3 million families worth Rp600,000 per month in Greater Jakarta has been completed in the first round, adding that the social aid will be distributed twice a month.

“Those are the schemes to fight against the pandemic. There is also social assistance coming from ministries/institutions as well as regional governments in accordance with the instructions of the President to carry out budget reallocation and refocusing for three focuses that I mentioned earlier,” the Minister said. (FID/EN).

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas