Some 49.32 percent, or Rp284.9 billion (some US$19 million) of Surabaya’s total reallocated municipal budget of Rp577.8 billion (around US$40 million) for COVID-19 handling in the city had been absorbed, according to the city’s legislative body.
The decision to reallocate the city’s budget for COVID-19 handling was taken on account of the sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases until June 2021, Surabaya’s Legislative Body (DPRD) Deputy Speaker Reni Astuti stated here Tuesday.
“Municipal budgets are redirected to prioritize areas of healthcare, economy, and social security. The highest percentage of the total reallocated budget is channeled to health care, constituting some 67.59 percent of the total refocused funding,” she revealed.
Budget reallocation for COVID-19 handling in the city will strengthen health workers’ efforts to lower infection rates in various phases, right from prevention to treatment of the disease, Astuti expounded.
She expected that there would be no reduction in funds allocated for people’s welfare, with funding earlier allotted for students’ scholarships and house repair subsidies being unaffected by the reallocation. Health workers’ incentives will yet be adjusted following the allocation of incentives from the national budget.
The deputy speaker reiterated the significance of social security for vulnerable residents affected by COVID-19 and its restrictions. Surabaya residents will receive allowances from the municipal authority apart from the Social Ministry and East Java Province authority, she noted.
“Data on eligible recipients is incomplete. Residents from the low-income bracket are eligible for the benefit yet not having obtained allowances from the higher authority will receive benefits from the city authority as allocated in the municipal budget. In principle, no vulnerable residents are left behind,” Astuti emphasized.
Astuti admitted that support from the ministry was insufficient for the recovery of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the pandemic, so municipal support was still deemed necessary.
“Apart from supporting MSMEs through the provision of CSR (corporate social responsibility) benefits, the municipal budget will also be allocated, yet detailed planning is necessary for ensuring optimal benefits to the economy,” she noted.
Astuti called on the municipal authority to increase support for vulnerable MSMEs while also highlighting the need to streamline the city’s operational spending.
“Support from companies’ CSRs, public, and social organisations are also beneficial to ensuring proper spending of the municipal budget,” she remarked.
Source: Antara News