Ministry of Social Affairs Prepares Food Card and Stunting Reduction in 2020

JAKARTA (September 26, 2019) - In 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs budget ceiling is set at IDR 62.77 trillion, an increase from 2019 of IDR 58.96 trillion. Of the budget ceiling, IDR 58.09 trillion or around 92.55 percent is allocated for social assistance spending.

"Social assistance spending is spread over two national priority programs that are the task of the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely, PKH social assistance and basic food card social assistance," said Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs Hartono Laras, when closing the 2020 Ministry of Social Affairs Program and Budget Planning Coordination Meeting, in Jakarta, Thursday (26/09/2019).

In his explanation, the Secretary General added, PKH social assistance was distributed to 10 million beneficiary families and Basic Food Cards to 15.6 million families. "This is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs' efforts to reduce the stunting rate," said the Secretary General.

In PKH, there are a number of obligations of Beneficiary Families (KPM) in the health component. Among other things, the obligation of pregnant women to have pregnancy checks at health facilities at least four times during pregnancy, give birth at health service facilities, and health checks for postpartum women four times for 42 days after giving birth.

PKH social assistance has an impact on reducing cases of stunting or short-stature toddlers to reaching 27 percent in 2018. The provision of the Basic Food Card in 2020 is a development of Food Aid.

"On this occasion, local governments need to get a comprehensive explanation of the two programs, and build a common commitment to reduce the stunting rate," said the Secretary General.

Furthermore, Hartono also stated that the size of the budget allocation implies a greater mandate and responsibility carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs. The increase in the budget also brings consequences for us.

"The increase in the budget must also be supported by an increase in improving target data by using single data, utilizing Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT), and strengthening monitoring and evaluation of the distribution of social assistance," he said.

No less important is the cooperation and support of local governments. The division of authority and affairs of the Ministry of Social Affairs with Provincial and Regency / City Regional Governments, in the context of social assistance distribution, is important to note Government Regulation Number 2 of 2018 on Minimum Service Standards (MSS).

This regulation has been followed up with the stipulation of technical regulations in the form of Minister of Social Affairs Regulation Number 9 of 2018 on Technical Standards for Basic Services at Minimum Service Standards in the Social Sector in Provincial and Regency / City areas.

Hartono emphasized that SPM in the Social Sector is the authority of the Regional Government, so it takes all of us to ensure that these services are carried out properly starting from the regional planning process (RPJMD and RKDP). "Also to be included in the Social Office Strategic Plan so that APBD support can be maximized for the achievement of SPM Social Sector indicators," he said.

He reminded that currently the SPM budgeting for the Social Sector is gaining confidence to receive DAK allocations in 2020. For this reason, all stakeholders need to optimize its use to be effective and efficient.

"Thus, in the future we can propose Non-Physical DAK allocations, especially for the implementation of Verification and Validation of Social Welfare Data in Regencies / Cities," he said.

Therefore, Hartono said, the implementation of the entire budget both at the central and regional levels must be accompanied by performance accountability which is reflected in the achievement of key performance indicators and the benefits of the program for the community so that it provides benefits in improving the level of social welfare of the community.

"This commitment must certainly be built and maintained through meetings like this and coordination both formal and informal among all of us actors in the implementation of social welfare," he said.

Regarding the participation of local governments in assisting the implementation of the Ministry of Social Affairs' tasks in the regions, deconcentration funds are routinely allocated. In addition, to increase regional fiscal capacity in carrying out social welfare implementation tasks and improve public services in the regions, the Ministry of Social Affairs carries out regional transfers through the Special Allocation Fund (DAK), 2020.

The DAK that has received a budget allocation through the 2020 APBN is the Physical DAK in the social sector.

On this occasion, the Head of the Planning Bureau Adhy Karyono emphasized the points of understanding agreed upon by all coordination meeting participants which emphasized effective program and budget implementation and accounting. "In this case, it is important to pay attention to strengthening communication, coordination, continuous monitoring, and evaluation both by the central and regional governments," said Adhy.

The coordination meeting agreed that the implementation of social welfare through the 2020 budget and regional sharing funds will pay attention to the implementation of the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have been integrated with national planning documents in the context of acceleration, financing, and inclusion.

Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau RI Ministry of Social Affairs

Sonny W. Manalu