The Government has issued Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1 of 2020 concerning State Financial Policy and Financial System Stability for Handling Covid-19 Pandemic. The community also supports the enactment of the Perppu into law so that the Government can move quickly to deal with Covid-19 and its impact on the national economy.
The Covid-19 pandemic is still ongoing in Indonesia. The small Corona virus makes the economy almost collapse. The policy to stay at home makes the traders on the streets lose customers. They switch to selling online.
This condition makes the government not remain silent. The President has submitted a government regulation to replace Corona’s law (Perppu) with the DPR, to overcome financial stability in Indonesia. The draft Perppu was made because 2020 is the time to make the state budget. So it is hoped that this Perppu will provide a revised state budget and propose an additional budget, because the country is in a state of economic emergency.
In the Corona Perppu, the government requested an additional 405.1 trillion rupiah in the state budget. The details, as much as 75 trillion to increase the health budget. What’s this much money for? Funds of this magnitude are needed to provide intensive care for health workers such as doctors and nurses who handle the Covid-19 virus, including compensation if any of them die.
In addition, the 75 trillion is also made to upgrade the Hospital that treats Corona patients. Also to buy hazmat clothes, masks, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other medical devices to protect medical personnel from the Covid-19 virus. All of these tools are in accordance with Ministry of Health standards.
Subsequently, 110 trillion funds were used to contribute food to the people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Also for electricity subsidies and money for PKH recipients. The remainder is budgeted for pre-work card recipients, because more unemployment in this country.
Entrepreneurs were also given loan funds through KUR (people’s business credit) so that they could continue their business, which had been lethargic affected by Corona. A total of 70 trillion will be prepared for this budget. They are also happy because there is a discount for paying taxes for the next 6 months. While the remaining 150 trillion rupiah is budgeted to finance the national economic recovery program.
Money as much as 405.1 trillion does look very big. Perhaps many are asking, what is the increase in the APBN budget that much? Though this is not a waste. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, medical workers did need additional PPE, masks and medical devices. Also a representative hospital for treating Corona patients.
The price of medical devices has never been cheap, especially since the age of use cannot be used for years. So the budget of 75 trillion is considered commensurate with the expenditure of items needed by medical personnel. Because the medical devices have also been standardized by the Ministry of Health, it’s no wonder the price is also quite high.
A budget of 110 trillion to help people affected by the Corona effect is also considered to be very rational. The population in Indonesia is around 200 million people. If divided equally, then 1 person gets help from the government as much as 550,000 rupiah. This assistance is a basic food necessity which is now the main need of the community.
Entrepreneurs can also be happy because there is assistance for people’s business credit. They can continue to open shops and sell with enthusiasm because there is additional capital. The government is not only thinking about the fate of medical officers, but also business people.
The Corona Perppu was created to overcome the problems that occur due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The submission of this Perppu to the DPR is expected to be quickly approved, so that the handling of Corona in Indonesia is also quickly resolved. Let us always support the president’s steps to overcome the Covid-19 virus by obeying the rules and supporting the government.
Alfisyah Kumalasari, active writer in the Press Circle and Cikini Students
