VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said that the government will disburse Rp2.7 trillion in funds to support 21,000 Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in implementing online learning activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs kept the funds and would distribute it to the Islamic boarding schools, Amin said in a video uploaded to the official Youtube account of the Vice President on Sunday.

"The government has allocated the budget amounting to Rp2.7 trillion for 21,000 pesantren. The funds are already in the pocket of the Minister of Religious Affairs (Fachrul Razi) and must be distributed within one to two months," he said.

Of the total 2.7 trillion, Rp2.38 trillion will be for the boarding schools' operational activities and Rp317 billion for the construction and improvement of the Internet networks to support online learning activities.

Each pesantren will get a grant based on the number of students studying, each worth Rp50 million, Rp40 million, or Rp25 million.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance on its official website mentioned that new habit adaptation (new normal) assistance is worth Rp2.6 trillion, comprising Rp2.38 trillion for Educational Operational Assistance (BOP) and Rp211.7 billion for online learning assistance for three months.

The BOP funds will be given to assist 21,173 Islamic boarding schools, 62,153 Islamic schools, and 112,008 Al Quran educational institutions (LPA).

Since the government announced the country's first COVID-19 cases in early March 2020, students have been studying from home by using the Internet network for online learning, in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus transmission. (ANTARA)

Papan Island is located inside the Togean Islands National Park, Tojo Unauna, District, Central Sulawesi Province. ANTARA/Muhammad Arsyandi

The Central Sulawesi administration is prepping to reopen Togean Islands National Park located in Tojo Unauna District, for tourists in mid-August 2020.

"That's our plan, as suggested by the stakeholders. However, there are many things to consider if this tourism object will be operational again," Head of the Togean Islands National Park Office (BTNKT) Bustang said here on Sunday.

He explained that currently, his party was developing various new adaptation policies against COVIID-19, as guidelines for every tourist visiting the national park area.

The Togean Islands National Park is an international tourist destination, hence it is deemed necessary to formulate strict health protocols to keep away tourists visiting the park from the coronavirus, according to him.

"We do not want to be careless, so this plan must be well-considered and prepared, to make visitors and the local community feel safe," Bustang said.

A number of attractions in Tojo Unauna District have begun to reopen based on a circular from the local district head, mainly for domestic tourists.

The plan to reopen the national park, however, has to be conducted by applying strict health protocols with the coordination of the local authorities, the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry, the military and police, according to him.

The Togean Islands archipelago labeled the ‘Jewel of Central Sulawesi’, has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2019.

Togean Tojo Una-Una Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 2,187,632 hectares on an archipelago of 483 islands in Central Sulawesi.

Located at the heart of the Coral Triangle, it features the highest coral diversity in the world, as well as mangrove forests and small island ecosystems. T

The Togean Islands is host to 363 plant species, including 33 species of mangrove, and various animal species such as tarsiers (Tarsius spectrum palengensis) and Togean monkeys (Macaca togeanus), cuscus, dugong, whale, and dolphin.

Coral reef fish are abundant, with 596 species inhabiting the Togean Islands National Park. (ANTARA)

A view of Tambelan Island, Bintan District, Riau Islands Province. (Antaranews Kepri/ Saud MC Kashmir)

Bintan District in Riau Islands Province is prepping to reopen its tourist destinations by applying strict health protocols to avert the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and to revive its tourism industry.

"Basically all entrances to Bintan have been prepared to be sterile from COVID-19 through various layers of health protocols," Bintan District Head Apri Sujadi said here during a virtual discussion with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Sunday.

Riau Islands Province currently has no fresh COVID cases.

"Indeed, at that time there were indications of COVID-19 cases, but now there are no more," he said.

General Manager of Bintan Resort Group Abdul Wahab confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the tourism sector in Bintan hard.

In January 2020, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Bintan received a total of some 90,000 tourists. However, only dozens of tourists came when the pandemic occurred, he added.

At present, Bintan is ready to receive tourists by applying strict health protocols against the COVID-19 transmission.

Those applying strict health protocols included employees working in tourist resorts, hotels, and restaurants.

"Every day we check their health condition. In addition, body temperature and health condition of every visitor must also be checked," Abdul Wahab said.

As it gears for the implementation of the new normal, the government is making efforts to ensure only those regions which report a low COVID-19 transmission rate, backed by scientific data, are allowed to proceed with their plans for receiving tourists, and that too under strict protocols advised by the World Health Organization (WHO).

As part of the efforts to regain tourist confidence, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has formulated and socialized health protocols, dubbed Cleanliness, Health, and Safety (CHS) protocols. (ANTARA)

Sapardi Djoko Damono, Indonesia's prominent poet and writer

Sapardi Djoko Damono, Indonesia's prominent poet and writer, passed away at the age of 80, in  Eka Hospital located in South Tangerang, on Sunday at 9:17 a.m. local time, after being hospitalized since July 9.

Sapardi was born in Solo on March 20, 1940. He had produced various literature works since the 1950s until recent times. He had also written poems, essays, and short stories.

His well-known and iconic works include "Hujan Bulan Juni" (Rain of June) published in 1994 as well as "Aku Ingin" (I Want) and "Yang Fana Adalah Waktu" (Time is Mortal).

Sapardi was also a professor at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Indonesia (UI) and had served as the dean during the period of 1995 to 1999.

The spokesperson of the faculty, Chysa, said that Sapardi's remains were laid to rest in his residence in UI lecturers' housing complex, Ciputat, South Tangerang, prior to the burial procession scheduled to be held in the afternoon. (ANTARA)