Govt' Continue to Save Budget
9 October 2014 16:34 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Askolani, director general of budget at the Finance Ministry, asked all ministries and state agencies to continue budget saving in order to prevent the current budget deficit from exceeding 2.4 percent of the gross domestic product until the end of 2014.
The policy has begun to yield results, which is why saving in official trips, meetings, purchase of goods and other sectors must continue.
Based on the experience in the previous year, the amount budget absorption was around 91 to 92 percent. However, the budget saving policy has resulted in improved budget absorption. "That's why we have to keep doing it," said Askolani.
According to Askolani, budget saving does not disrupt government programs and public services. "Programs for health, poverty and infrastructure are still proceeding," he said.
In order to support budget saving, Finance Minister Chatib Basri has reminded every government agency to recalculate the budget that has been spent. He claimed there had been several savings, but they are not enough to reduce deficit.
JAYADI SUPRIADIN