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Covid-19: Indonesia Allocates $3.2 Billion in Staple Food Program This Year

The Ministry of Social Affairs has allocated 45 trillion rupiahs ($3.2 billion) to provide staple foods for families affected by the Covid-19 pandemic this year.

The initiative is part of the government-funded social assistance programs to accelerate national economic recovery. The other two programs comprise Family Hope Program (PKH) and Cash Social Assistance (BST).

"The Ministry of Social Affairs has allocated 45 trillion rupiahs [$3.2 billion] for the staple food assistance program in collaboration with the Himbara (the Association of State-Owned Banks) and PT Pos Indonesia [state-owned postal service firm]," said Social Minister expert staff Sonny Manalu, on Wednesday, February 3.

Sonny said besides the staple food assistance, the Ministry has also allocated 12 trillion rupiahs ($853.9 million) for the BST program and 20 trillion rupiahs ($1.4 billion) for the PKH assistance this year.

"The BST program will be distributed to recipients who are affected by the Covid-19, not the PKH program recipients nor the staple food recipients," he said, adding that the BST program will be distributed directly by PT Pos Indonesia from January to April.

Source: https://go.kompas.com/read/2021/02/04/172346174/covid-19-indonesia-allocates-32-billion-in-staple-food-program-this-year