IDNEWSNOW.COM, Jakarta – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that the government has allocated an additional budget for social security in the amount of IDR 55.21 trillion for the public during the Public Activities Restriction Enforcement (“PPKM Darurat”). The budget will be disbursed for cash aid, village direct cash aid, assistance for the hopeful family programs, staple needs assistance, internet quota, and electricity subsidy.
“I have ordered the respective ministers to immediately channel the social aid to the entitled citizens,” Jokowi said at a press conference on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
In addition to social security, Jokowi said that the government will also provide incentives for informal micro-businesses in the amount of IDR 1.2 million for each business for a total of 1 million micro-businesses. Jokowi said that the government will continue to distribute free medicines for non-symptomatic people and Covid-19 patients in a total of 2 million packets.
The government has decided to extend the PPKM Darurat until July 25, 2021. The decision was taken after evaluating Covid-19 spreading and infection rate for the last two weeks.
Previously, PPKM Darurat has been ongoing for two weeks from July 3 to July 20, 2021. The policy was made following a significant surge of Covid-19 cases exceeding 20,000 cases per day.
For the preliminary phase, the PPKM Darurat only applies for Java and Bali, covering 44 regencies and cities. However, after being implemented for more than a week, on July 12, 2021, the government decided that the PPKM Darurat also applies for regions outside Java and Bali. PKMU Darurat for regions outside Java and Bali covers 15 cities and regencies in regions with the highest Covid-19 spreading rate.
During the PPKM Darurat, the government restricts the people’s mobilization. For travels using all modes of transportation, for example, residents are obliged to bring a vaccination card showing that they have been injected with the first dose of vaccine and PCR swab test result showing negative Covid-19 infection.
Even for plane passengers, the requirements are even stricter. Passengers are obliged to bring PCR test results. Mobilization restriction is also applied for offices. Businesses in the non-essential sectors and non-critical sectors are obliged to implement work from home 100 percent. Meanwhile, for essential sectors, the maximum capacity of offices is limited to 50 percent. Only the critical sectors will be allowed to operate with 100 percent capacity.
Jokowi said that the government will open economic activities in stages on July 26, 2021, if Covid-19 cases number decreases. “We always monitor, understanding the dynamics on the field, and listening to opinions of people affected by PPKM,” the President said.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
