The Central Java administration has allocated Rp 1.4 trillion (US$85.4 million) to cushion the economic and social impacts, as well as management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo wants the proposal to be endorsed by the Central Java Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) as soon as possible.

“We need at least Rp 1.4 trillion. It cannot be less than that,” he said on Sunday.

The administration has drawn out initiatives in response to the impact of the pandemic on people’s finances and mobility. He said there were several sources of funding that could be used to help prevent the spread of the lethal respiratory disease.

“We will propose the plan to the DPRD next week and hopefully we can speed up the process so we can go about our normal activities,” the governor said.

The funds would be used as social and economic safety nets, such as cash aid for the poor and empowerment programs.

Ganjar cited an example that the funds could be used to cover health expenses for 1.8 million poor people not yet covered by the Family Hope Program and Indonesian Health Card and those who fell under the vulnerable group category.

Central Java has the fifth-highest number of cases among Indonesia’s 34 provinces with 81 confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven deaths as of Sunday.

Ganjar further said additional funding could be obtained from the regional budget. Other potential sources of funding included the private sector and community groups. Village funds could also be another fund source, he added.

“We need to pay attention to females who are the breadwinners in the family, vulnerable groups, those who have lost their jobs and [informal workers] working in other regions who have returned to Central Java,” Ganjar said. (trn)

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