VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Motorcyclists on Sudirman road were diverted to Senopati road as traffic in the direction of the Senayan Roundabout, Jakarta was temporarily closed on the first day of emergency PPKM on Saturday (July 3, 2021). ANTARA/Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna - 

The Sudirman-Thamrin road bore a deserted look on Saturday, the first day of the implementation of the emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM) for controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Police installed barricades at several intersection points on one of Jakarta’s main roads on Saturday to limit the mobility of residents, ANTARA reported from the capital.

Barricades were placed to cut access from Thamrin road to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout, while the route from Sudirman road to Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) was also temporarily closed, with traffic redirected to the SCBD area, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

The route to the Senayan Roundabout was also barricaded and traffic diverted to Senopati-Patimura roads.

Several police officers, assisted by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), were put on standby at a number of points, including at intersections, including the one on Pintu Satu Senayan road or near FX Sudirman to Sudirman road.

Drivers on Asia Afrika road headed to Sudirman road via Pintu Satu Senayan road were also asked to turn around.

However, officers made exceptions for drivers taking sick residents to the hospital.

A traffic congestion was reported in the area, but officers on duty stepped in to break up the jam.

By 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, there was no traffic congestion on the route from the Sudirman-Thamrin road to the Senayan Roundabout due to traffic restrictions on the first day of emergency PPKM.

Earlier, Jakarta Police had implemented isolation measures at 63 entry and exit points for Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jadetabek) in accordance with the Implementation of the Java-Bali Emergency Community Activity Restrictions (PPKM).

"There are 63 points that we are guarding, consisting of 28 points on city limits and toll roads, then 21 points for mobility restrictions in locations prone to violations," traffic director of Jakarta Police, Senior Commissioner Sambodo Purnomo Yogo, said in Jakarta on Friday (July 2, 2021).

The isolation measures were enforced from 12 a.m. WIB on Saturday, with only individuals working in the essential sector allowed to venture outside the home//ANT

Screenshot of Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin during a press briefing on Saturday (July 3, 2021) on the ceiling price of drugs used in COVID-19 treatment. ANTARA/Asep Firmansyah/sh - 

The government has set the ceiling price for drugs used in COVID-19 treatment through the issuance of Health Minister’s Decree No. HK.01.07/MENKES/4826/2021.

"Yesterday afternoon, we have signed the health minister’s decree on the ceiling price of drugs used for the coronavirus disease 2019. This is the ceiling price for medicines sold at drug stores, pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities across Indonesia," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin stated here on Saturday.

The drugs used in COVID-19 treatment comprise Favipiravir 200 mg tablet, with the ceiling price set at Rp22,500; Remdesivir 100 mg injection, at Rp510,000 per vial; Oseltamivir 75 mg priced at Rp26,000 per capsule; and Intravenous Immunoglobulin 5 percent 50 ml infusion costing Rp3,262,300.

The others used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients are intravenous Immunoglobulin 10 percent 25 ml infusion at Rp3,965,000; Intravenous Immunoglobulin 10 percent 50 ml infusion priced at Rp6,174,900; Ivermectin 12 mg tablet at Rp7,500; and Tocilizumab 400 mg/20 ml infusion in vial available for Rp5,710,600.

Tocilizumab 80 mg/4 ml infusion in vial form costing Rp1,162,200; Azithromycin 500 at Rp1,700 per tablet; and Tocilizumab 500 mg infusion at Rp95,400 are others deployed in the COVID-19 treatment regime.

"Those are 11 drugs used during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have set the ceiling price," Sadikin remarked.

The minister explained that the decision seeks to thwart the attempts of speculators to derive high profits that would further hinder the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic//ANT

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah while receiving a virtual audience from the leadership of the Jakarta Japan Club in Jakarta on Wednesday (June 6, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Manpower Ministry - 

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah called on company's management and workers to conform to the government's policy on emergency public activities restriction (PPKM) in effect in Java and Bali on July 3-20, 2021.

"The government's policy to implement emergency PPKM is the best effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. All parties must comply with it for our common safety, and this effort is our shared responsibility," Minister Fauziyah noted in an official statement here on Saturday.

The minister stressed that compliance by all parties in following health protocols, as stipulated in the emergency PPKM, is part of the efforts to protect business continuity whilst ensuring safety and safeguarding the health of employees at the workplace.

The health and safety of workers is a top priority that can be ensured by implementing strict health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the workplace.

By following the rules set out in the emergency PPKM policy and stringently implementing health protocols, Fauziyah is optimistic that the spread of COVID-19 at the workplace would be stopped.

If conditions return to normal, the minister is upbeat about a gradual recovery in work productivity and business continuity as well as economic improvement.

Furthermore, Fauziyah ensured that the ministry had instructed labor inspectors at the central and regional levels to assist the COVID-19 Task Force in guarding the implementation of emergency PPKM in their respective regions.

Minister Fauziyah also called on employers, trade and labor unions, as well as all workers to step up social dialog and work together for survival amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We must admit that conditions during this pandemic are very difficult for everyone. However, we must endure it. Hence, the government, employers, and workers should work together more closely, so that we can face this pandemic well," the minister stated//ANT

Indonesian Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa while receiving a bilateral visit at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, France. ANTARA/HO-National Development Planning -

Indonesian National Development Planning Minister Suharso Monoarfa pressed for deepening cooperation between Indonesia and France to create a low-carbon environment, green and blue economy, as well as cooperation in financing the development of government projects.

Monoarfa, concurrently the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head, made the statement while receiving senior officials from The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and senior officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (French Treasury) at the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, France.

"The Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas has prepared an economic transformation strategy. The AFD collaboration with the ministry is an effort to implement Indonesia's economic transformation strategy, particularly to create a green economy," Minister Monoarfa noted in his official statement here on Saturday.

During the meeting, the minister affirmed that both parties had concurred on intensifying cooperation in realizing a low-carbon environment or green economy, with the focus on energy transition, waste management, and green industry, including green tourism. Waste-to-energy projects are some potential projects that can be developed. Meanwhile, the AFD will also fully support Indonesia's steps in implementing the pilot project that plans to transform Bali into a blue island.

"The Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas will facilitate potential projects that can be financed with AFD loans, such as the eco-fishing port and mass transit program, particularly in Bandung and Medan," the minister noted.

On the occasion, the AFD stated that through closer cooperation with Indonesia, coupled with other cooperation projects and in order to boost operational flexibility, operations of the AFD representative office in Indonesia in future will operate as a separate institution from the French Embassy in the country.

Meanwhile, the French Treasury also stated that in recent years, the French Treasury loans were distributed to finance the construction of television transmitters and the Meteorological System in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government is also still considering funds from the French government for several government projects on account of the cooperation between both nations in financing development through the French Treasury financing facility that has existed since long.

"Several Indonesian government projects that can be potentially financed by the French Treasury are the National Data Center and the digitalization of broadcasting system. The National Data Center project will be implemented in the near future," Minister Monoarfa stated.

The minister pushed for more competitive financing from the French government for its Indonesian counterpart’s projects as compared to other sources of financing. He is also sanguine that the French government would help with technical readiness and capacity building for recipients.

In the meantime, the French government has positively welcomed the cooperation plan, especially pertaining to the use of French Information and Communication Technology, such as satellites and radar. The French government also offers technical assistance in the preparation of the project using technology from the country.

Regarding the financing scheme, the French Treasury will negotiate with the banking syndicate, so that the financing can be implemented more competitively//ANT