Jokowi: Distribute funds quickly to cushion impact of Covid-19
JAKARTA: Governors, regents and mayors need to hasten disbursement of funds allocated by the central government in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Joko Widodo said it was crucial for regional administrations to fast-track the allocations to bolster health and business sectors in their respective communities, according to The Jakarta Post.
Joko, also known as Jokowi, said he also expected the budget reallocation to improve the distribution of social aid, which had previously faced hurdles due to several factors, including data errors.
“We should prepare the budget for an economic stimulus for small and medium enterprises,” Jokowi said in a meeting with regional heads at the Central Java Governor’s Office in Semarang.
“The central government, the provincial administration and municipal administrations must also prepare the budget. There should be multiple layers so nothing is overlooked.”
He also told regional heads that knowing whether it was time to “hit the brakes or gas” (stop or continue) in regard to large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) was vital amid shifting public attitude towards the present health emergency.
“It would be ideal if we could (juggle between) Covid-19 mitigation, healthcare and the economy.”
Jokowi had said he was prepared to take “extraordinary steps”, including a cabinet reshuffle, should his ministers fail to take Covid-19 seriously.
He urged all ministries to cut the red tape and accelerate spending to boost the economy, citing the state budget for the health sector as an example of the slow spending
He also called on the Health Ministry to pay out the financial incentives promised to health workers on the front lines of the Covid-19 outbreak.
On Tuesday, the Health Ministry announced that 71 more people died, the highest reported death toll in a day so far, bringing the total number of fatalities to 2,876.
The ministry’s disease control and prevention director-general, Achmad Yurianto, also revealed there were 1,293 new Covid-19 cases and 1,006 recoveries, bringing the total number of those who got better to 24,806.
With 56,385 confirmed Covid19 cases in total, Indonesia has the largest number and the highest death toll in Southeast Asia.