JAKARTA. The government has further slashed the budget of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing by Rp 44.58 trillion, leaving its budget ceiling at Rp 75.63 trillion from the initial amount of Rp 120.21 trillion.
Earlier this year, the ministry's budget was slashed by Rp 24.53 trillion in accordance with Presidential Regulation No. 54/2020 on the Change of the 2020 State Budget Posts and Details.
According to Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, the budget cut is in line with current situation amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The ministry's reallocated budget, he added, comes from the savings of business trip and meeting package allocation by 50% of the remaining unused budget in 2020. In terms of unactioned contractual packages, Mr Hadimuljono said they will not be cancelled.
Mr Hadimuljono affirmed that the ministry's reallocated budget will be used to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to support the healthcare sector and provide social safety nets. (AM/MS)