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June
JKN - KIS Program Introduce Social Insurance Administration Organization -BPJS at International Meetings
Written by MaryatiThe Indonesian government re-introduced the Indonesia Healthy Card-Health Insurance Program (JKN-KIS) to the international world, through a virtual meeting "Foreign Policy and Global Healthcare (FPGH) Ministerial Retreat" on Monday, June 1. Director of Social Insurance Administration Organization -BPJS Health Fachmi Idris in a press release received in Jakarta, Tuesday (June 2), said the presence of the JKN-KIS Program had opened access to affordable and quality health services, so that the program is mostly used by the Indonesian people. Fachmi explained that up to April 30, 2020, JKN-KIS had protected 222.9 million people or 83.64 percent of Indonesia's population. The JKN-KIS program also provides access to health services for all levels of society, including poor and disadvantaged people.
On that occasion Fachmi Idris also explained about the role of BPJS Health in handling the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, as a verifier of hospital claims specifically for COVID-19 cases. The claim payment process is carried out by the Ministry of Health using funds from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). As of May 27, 2020, 291 Hospitals had filed special claims for COVID-19 cases at the BPJS Health Branch Office. Several claims submitted by the Hospital have been verified and submitted to the Ministry of Health for further processing.
This year Indonesia was appointed as Chairman of the "Foreign Policy and Global Healthcare (FPGH) Ministerial Retreat. FPGH Ministerial Retreat is a forum initiated by seven foreign ministers from South Africa, Brazil, Indonesia, Norway, France, Senegal, and Thailand , which aims to promote the importance of global health issues in the framework of foreign policy. At the meeting with the social health insurance providers of FPGH countries, BPJS Health was entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host the meeting.
May
National Development Planning Agency/Bappenas Pushes for Economic Recovery of COVID-19 Impact with Regional Governments
Written by MaryatiThe Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency is pushing for economic recovery as an impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, in accordance with the government's work plan in 2021. National Development Planning Minister/ Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, in a quarterly virtual consultation meeting with regional governments in Jakarta on Tuesday (May26), said the economic recovery covered the industrial, health, tourism and investment sectors, especially the reduction of working hours that needed to be evaluated.
Previously, the Ministry of Finance had projected that total funds for handling and recovering the national economy due to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak reached 641.17 trillion rupiah. The funds are allocated for social assistance, interest subsidies and incentives for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The central government also allocated 15.1 trillion rupiah for local governments consisting of 9.1 trillion rupiah in special physical allocation funds (DAK), 5 trillion rupiah of regional economic incentives (DID), and 1 trillion rupiah of the provision of loan facilities to regions. In addition to economic recovery, the consultation meeting also discussed Covid-19 mitigation and health issues including preparing the national health system.
In the Government Work Plan (RKP) 2021, health reform is a concern including the focus on social protection reform, disaster resilience, and also reforms related to food security. Minister Suharso Monoarfa said, President Joko Widodo asked his Ministry to redesigning the National Health System. Therefore he hopes the same measures would be done by the regions because the end of the national health system is on the regions.
Meanwhile, the Deputy for Human, Community and Culture Development at the Ministry of Development Planning / Bappenas Subandi said that the utilization of special allocation funds for health would be optimized to support the strengthening of the national health system. This is done to strengthen the national health system in order to increase preparedness in mitigating pandemic, public health emergencies and the recovery and resolution of health problems.
June
President Joko Widodo has prepared four special incentives for farmers and fishermen to maintain the availability of basic commodities amid the Covid-19 pandemic. President Joko Widodo, in a Limited Meeting on Incentives for Farmers and Fishermen from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Thursday, May 28, said that his office saw several large program schemes that could be used to help farmers and fishermen during this pandemic. The meeting was held in the Context of Maintaining the Availability of Staples. The first incentive was through a social safety net program for 2.7 million farmers and poor farm laborers and 1 million fishermen and fish farmers.
The social programs provided are in the form of the family of hope program, cash social assistance, village direct cash assistance, a package of nine basic commodities, and a free electricity subsidy program. According to President Jokowi, the main objective of the program scheme is to ease the burden of household consumption costs from underprivileged families, including poor farmers and fishermen.
Other incentives are provided through credit interest subsidy programs which have also been decided and are already in operation. President Jokowi asserted, the Government has prepared a fund of 34 trillion rupiah to relax installment payments and provide credit interest subsidies, which are channeled through People's Business Credit, Fostering Prosperous Family Economy, Ultra Micro Businesses, Pawn shops, and through other financing companies.
He added, on the other side there were delays in installments and subsidies to the beneficiaries of capital assistance carried out by several ministries. Such as the Maritime and Fishery Business Capital Management Agency, Prospective Land Farmer Candidates, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
Meanwhile, after the limited meeting with the President, Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari Batubara said that according to the President's direction, the social assistance programs for fishermen and farmers would be in cash. The Ministry of Social Affairs will also coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries regarding the social assistance programs.
May
President Joko Widodo Encourages People to Buy Domestic Products
Written by MaryatiPresident Joko Widodo urged people to buy domestic products during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the inauguration of the #BanggaBuatanIndonesia National Movement through a virtual conference at the State Palace in Jakarta, Thursday (May 14), the President said, Indonesians must support, help and protect each other so as not to be exposed to the Covid-19 and the economy is also not threatened. Therefore, it’s necessary to save the neighbors, relatives, friends and family with discipline in implementing the health protocols. By caring for the neighbors who are in difficulty, shopping in small or micro-businesses, and buying works of Indonesian products, President Joko Widodo believes that Indonesians can jointly pass the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ha also expressed that Indonesian creative industry products are good; the designs are not inferior to foreign products. Many good quality products are made by home industries of farmers and fishermen. According to the President, domestic products must be appreciated, supported, be given as much space as possible, and be used for the safety and progress of the nation and state of Indonesia. He added, these products must be a mainstay to foster confidence that Indonesia is a nation that is proud of the work of the nation itself.
The president also cited a number of national works in the field of health that have been used for handling the Covid-19 pandemic. In the health sector, to accelerate the handling of Covid-19, Indonesia has succeeded in developing a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kit, rapid diagnostic test or RDT, ventilator and mobile BSL (Biosafety Level 2). It is hoped that by the end of May, all the innovation can be mass produced so that Indonesia is no longer dependent on imported products from other countries. President Joko Widodo believes, a pandemic is not an obstacle to fostering creativity and innovation. He emphasized that the limitations actually encourage continued innovation, transformation, explore self-potential and create opportunities.
May
Credit Restructuration from Covid-19 Impact More than 336 Trillion Rupiahs
Written by MaryatiFinancial Services Authority (OJK) revealed the total restructuration of banking industry credit surpassed 336.97 trillion rupiahs. The number was proposed by 3.88 million debtors affected by Covid-19 until May 10 2020. That was reported by OJK Commissioner Chairman Wimboh Santoso in online press conference with Financial System Stability Committee in Jakarta on Monday.
According to Wimboh, mostly was micro small medium enterprises around 167 trillion rupiahs from 3.42 million debtor. While the credit restructuration from financing companies until May 8 2020, total approved contracts for restructuring reached 1.32 million debtors amounting to 43 trillion rupiahs.
As reported by Antara news agency, Wimboh Santoso said, credit restructuring form was postponement of loan principal and interest for six months. The credit restructuring policy was expected not to give greater pressure towards nonperforming loans both in bank and financing companies.
Wimboh Santoso explained, with the restructuring, nonperforming loan from affected debtor will be deemed performing so that bank and financing institutions do not need to make reserve funds. According to him, reserve funds will only narrow down the space for capital, bank, and financing companies to expand and provide loan to customer.
Wimboh Santoso believed that credit restructuring can hold nonperforming loan from increasing. According to him, all bank and financing companies were enthusiastic to join this program. He assured, credit still grows because real sector still has credit facility. Besides, in the current situation, government needs additional credit so that the project under development can still run as expected.
Government previously decided to provide loan principal postponement and credit interest subsidy for six months from April 2020. Financial Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati previously revealed the amount of interest subsidy for micro small debtor under 500 million rupiahs was six percent for the first three months and three other percent for the next three months. While for small medium businesses with credit ranging from 500 million up to 10 billion rupiahs, the given subsidy is three percent for the first three months and two percent for the next three months.
Credit restructuring was expected to give support to debtor who proposed the facility. Government recorded, debtors at secondary banks were 1.62 million, were 20.02 million at banks, and 6.76 million at financing companies
May
Investment Coordinating Board and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strengthen Cooperation to Increase Investment
Written by MaryatiThe Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to strengthen cooperation to increase investment into Indonesia. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi in a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday (7/5) reminded that it’s important to strengthen the strategy of raising investment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized that along with the momentum of the post-epidemic world economic recovery, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Investment Coordinating Board must cooperate to attract quality investment.
The commitment to jointly increase investment has been carried out recently on the web seminar entitled "Maintaining Investment Momentum: Post-COVID-19 Investment Improvement Strategy" which was attended by 34 Heads of Indonesian Representatives around the world, including from the Indonesian Embassies (KBRI) overseas such as Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, China, Italy, the Indonesian Embassy in Belgium concurrently in Luxembourg and the European Union, and the Indonesian Embassy in Turkey.
In her written statement, Minister Retno Marsudi asserted that Indonesian representatives are expected to improve their performance to explore the opportunities that exist in each local country. The orientation of economic diplomacy becomes more important than before. In addition, investment growth in the first quarter of 2020, which increased by 8 percent, also became a reference to improve and strengthen investment strategies amid the pandemic. The orientation of economic diplomacy must become more important than before.
Meanwhile, Head of BKPM, Bahlil Lahadalia said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, diplomats continue to actively promote Indonesian investment opportunities. He also stated that amid COVID-19, it is very difficult to expect new investment to enter Indonesia. His side will focus on existing investments until they can be realized.
According to Bahlil, the Investment Coordinating Board has a target of stalled investment settlement worth Rp708 trillion. At present, around Rp 287 trillion has been completed, which consists of investment projects such as Lotte Chemical Indonesia; cooperation in the construction of an oil refinery between Pertamina and Rosneft, the construction of Tanjung Jati power plant, and the construction of Hyundai Motor Company car factory.
May
Traditional market must still operate amid coronavirus or Covid-19 outbreak. Trade minister Agus Suparmanto said, in operating, the market must prioritize hygiene of the market, trader, and buyers while still implementing physical distancing in optimizing the Large Scale Social Distancing in some regions to stop Covid-19 spread.
In written statement on Sunday May 3, Minister Agus Suparmanto said, that Trade Ministry will cooperate with Home Affairs Ministry, National Disaster Mitigation Agency, and Covid-19 Mitigation Task Force in regions related to monitoring people’s market. This aims to keep the markets clean when operating.
Agus Suparmanto affirmed, this step also aims to ensure basic important goods supplies are available with stable price. Therefore, he asked the regional Government Associations of City and Regency to allow traditional markets in provinces, regencies, cities, and villages open by still obeying safety protocol.
The Minister explained, traders in traditional market decreased averagely 29 percent. The decrease also happened at traders’ turnover averagely 39 percent resulting from lacking of buyers during Covid-19 outbreak in Indonesia.
Similarly, retail businesspeople had their turnover decreased by 90 percent. Besides that, there was 50 percent decrease in goods supply that resulted in decreasing ability in fulfilling many responsibilities such as paying tax, rent, electricity, gas, installment, and employee salary.
Measure to operate the people’s market was also agreed by Covid-19 Mitigation Acceleration Task Force Doni Monardo. According to Doni Monardo, Indonesia chose to implement Large Scale Social Distancing instead of lockdown, so some sectors can still operate. National Disaster Mitigation Agency will issue Circular Letter to the whole Covid-19 Mitigation Acceleration Task Force in Provinces and Regencies/Cities to operate traditional market in their region while still implementing health protocol at the markets.
Policy to still open the traditional market was also supported by House of Representative’s Commission 6. In virtual meeting with Trade Ministry, Home Affairs Ministry, National Disaster Mitigation Agency, and some related associations, Commission 6 conveyed their support to make Indonesian traditional markets’ circulation and ecosystem can still run, so that underprivileged people’s economy can still be maintained by continuously prioritizing health protocol. Traditional market must still open and operate optimally, since the market is the distribution chain for farmers and fishermen who sell their products.
May
President Joko Widodo is optimistic, economy will recover in 2021
Written by MaryatiPresident Joko Widodo says, he is optimistic that 2021 will be a momentum for economic recovery after Covid-19 pandemic struck Indonesia. Therefore, he asked regional governments to prepare scenarios for recovery of the sectors worst affected.
When opening the 2020 National Development Planning Conference through a video conference on Thursday (30/4), President Joko Widodo asked governors, regents, mayors, and heads of the Regional Development Planning Agency to identify in detail the impact of Covid-19 in their respective regions. He also requested the regional governments to be able to carefully sort out the sectors affected by Covid-19, starting from those most affected, survived, and sectors that can actually take the opportunities that exist. According to the President, there are some sectors that suffer loss, such as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), tourism, construction, and transportation sectors. Even so, he saw that there are also several sectors that survived and could continue to move, such as the textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical devices, food and beverage, communication services, and logistics sectors.
Meanwhile, to prevent mass layoffs, the President said, the government has prepared an economic stimulus package program to survive and prevent layoffs, such as tax incentives, credit restructuring and relaxation of raw material imports.
However, he cautioned that micro-businesses and ultra-micro businesses must also be helped. According to him, economic stimulus must reach the informal sectors, such as street vendors, snack sellers, and small shops. He also revealed that the number of business operators is very large. According to data of the National Development Planning Agency, the figure reaches 40 million with a large workforce. He added that that amid COVID-19 pandemic situation, the government has reallocated and refocused the budget into three priorities, namely health, social safety net and stimulus priorities for economic recovery.
President Joko Widodo perceived that indeed, there is no certainty that the COVID-19 pandemic will come to end in the world. However, the government continues to prepare various policy scenarios to anticipate from the mild to the most severe impacts of COVID-19 during the Covid-19 pandemic situation.
April
Indonesian Communication and Informatics Ministry stated that the regulation on International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI number validation is official since April 18 2020. It was marked by the beginning of IMEI registration into the system prepared by cellular operators. IMEI regulation was ratified by three ministries namely Communication and Informatics Ministry, Trade Ministry, and Industry Ministry.
This regulation only applies to devices purchased after April 18, while users who have actively been using their devices before it does not need to do anything. IMEI validation only applies to cellular devices such as cellphone and tablet, but not for laptops.
Indonesian government since February had decided to use whitelist to ensure that consumer buys legal devices that can connect to cellular operator service when they buy a new gadget. IMEI number on the phone will be recorded in the Equipment Identity Register (EIR) in the operators.
Data from EIR will be read by Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) that will be managed by government, to decide if the device is into the whitelist, blacklist, or even greylist.
Government is also preparing consumer service in the CEIR system for complaint on IMEI, while the management will be appointed to institution that manages CEIR. IMEI regulation can initiate a new service, namely blocking lost device so that it cannot connect to any cellular number.
Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto in Jakarta on Sunday (19/4) remined the importance for business people in trade sector to comply to the IMEI regulation. According to Minister Agus, this regulation aims to protect consumer from harmful and bad devices.
Agus Suparmanto affirmed that they will take firm action if the businesspeople in trade sector including producer, importer, distributor, agent, retailer, and electronic business people do not comply to the IMEI regulation.
For every violation, Trade Ministry will give from heavy warning to business permit revocation, while the violator must pay compensation for the consumer. Although in the middle of Covid-19 pandemic, this firm act will still be imposed to protect consumer from illegal communication product trade or products from black market.
April
In the near future, Indonesian domestic industry players will produce 16,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) every day, based on the criteria of the World Health Organization -WHO. Indonesian Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, in a virtual press conference after a limited meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday (April 15) said that his office through the Textile Center of the Ministry of Industry has cooperated with the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling Covid-19. The cooperation was also expanded by involving the Indonesian Textile Association. Besides PPE, Minister Agus Gumiwang also said that his side along with a number of industries is also making various efforts to develop ventilators.
The Ministry of Industry has coordinated with four groups of ventilator developers from the University of Indonesia, the Yogyakarta team consisting of Gajah Mada University, and a number of private companies. From the results of the coordination, it is certain that several groups of ventilator developers will start producing this April. He also explained, the Yogyakarta team actually spoke in the medium to long term. Besides handling Covid-19, in the future, they will produce high-grade ventilators. While other groups will produce low-cost ventilators.
When opening a limited meeting recently, President Joko Widodo said, the availability of medical devices, medicines and pharmaceutical raw materials amidst Covid-19 pandemic must be ensured sufficient for this moment and in the future. This includes the availability of PPE for doctors and medical personnel. The reason is that currently more than 200 countries in the world are affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many countries in the world are fighting over the supply of medical devices and pharmaceutical goods to overcome the virus that attacks the respiratory tract.
President Joko Widodo asked the ranks of ministers and leaders of institutions to re-evaluate the entire potential of domestic industrial resources, such as the pharmaceutical raw materials industry, the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) industry, masks, ventilators and others. He also reminded, exports of goods related to handling Covid-19 to be done selectively, because domestic needs must be prioritized. In addition, the import of raw materials for making medical devices and pharmaceutical goods to handle Covid-19 must be facilitated.