TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo has set an additional allocation of Rp405,1 Trillion to handle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Indonesia and dampen the economic impacts resulting from it.

The budget will be allocated for spending in the health sector at Rp75 trillion, for social protection and assistance at Rp110 trillion, for tax incentives and business stimulus at Rp70.1 trillion.

"And Rp150 trillion to finance the national economic recovery program including credit restructuring and business funding guarantees, especially for micro, small and medium businesses," Jokowi said through a video conference from Bogor Palace, West Java, on Tuesday, March 31.

The president also issued Government Regulation (PP) on Large-scale Social Restrictions and Presidential Decree on Public Health Emergency.

“The Government has determined COVID-19 as a disease that has incited civil emergency; therefore, the government has now declared a status of public health emergency. As a result, the option we are choosing is Large-scale Social Restriction,” he said.

Widodo continued that this decision, based on the Law on Health Quarantines, has been stipulated by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the COVID-19 Task Force and Regional Governments.

Therefore, the regional administration heads have been asked to coordinate with the central government, as opposed to making their own decisions.

“(Regional heads) must each be in their own corridors in coordinating with the central (government), do not make your own policies,” said Jokowi.

The number of Covid-19 confirmed cases in Indonesia keeps increasing since the government first announced it in early March 2020.

BISNIS | DIO SUHENDA (Intern Translator)