VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

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inance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati (second left) at the signing of a cooperation agreement between Jakarta and West Java provinces and PT SMI (Persero) in Jakarta on Monday (July 27, 2020). (ANTARA/HO-Finance Ministry Public Relations/sh)

The Indonesian government has sanctioned Rp16.5 trillion in loans for Jakarta and West Java provinces to fund infrastructure development, which has been stalled in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said regional governments are facing the tough task of reviving activities which could boost the economy, without risking an increase in coronavirus transmission.

"That will be a remarkably difficult task," Indrawati said at the signing of a cooperation agreement between Jakarta and West Java provinces with PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI) in Jakarta on Monday.

PT SMI is among the Finance Ministry’s Special Mission Vehicles (SMV) and is engaged in financing and preparing infrastructure projects.

The Jakarta provincial administration has sought a loan of Rp12.5 trillion, out of which it plans to allocate Rp4.5 trillion for this year’s projects that have been hindered by the pandemic, the minister said.

The infrastructure projects include drinking water installation, flood control system, waste processing, transportation, tourism, and sport facilities.

Meanwhile, the West Java administration has sought a loan of Rp1.9 trillion for this year and Rp2.09 trillion for 2021, which will be used to develop social infrastructure such as hospitals, public health centers, and other health facilities.

West Java also plans to build logistics infrastructure such as roads, inter-city bridges, low cost housing, and improve some special areas, including city squares, tourist destinations, and creative centers.

"It will also develop environment infrastructure such as irrigation and drainage," Indrawati informed.

According to the minister, loans worth Rp10 trillion and Rp5 trillion will be sourced from the state budget for the National Economic Recovery Program (PEN) and channelled through PT SMI.

The government will offer a low interest rate on the 10-year tenure loans, and they could be included in the regional budget plan (APBD) or the revised regional budget plan.

"The government will also give interest-rate subsidy for the loans provided by PT SMI," she said.(ANTARA)

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Impact Handling Task Force from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, Ari Juliano Gema and Head of the Yogyakarta COVID-19 Task Force, Biwana Yuswantana, in a virtual dialogue on the implementation of health protocols in tourism attractions. ANTARA/HO.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has ensured the people to carry out safe travels amid the COVID19 pandemic by applying new normal adaptation, with technical guidelines and strict health protocols implemented in tourism destinations.

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Impact Handling Task Force from the Ministry, Ari Juliano Gema, said in a press conference virtually held here on Sunday, that the government was prioritizing cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental aspects (CHSE) in tourism destinations, in the interest of tourists in particular.

"That means that in this period, we are prioritizing cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental aspects. We already have guidelines that we made with the aim to ensure that all tourism destinations are following the guidelines and can ensure that the CHSE factors are met," he explained.

He said that the Ministry has produced a video on the implementation of guidelines and health protocols that need to be implemented in tourism destinations and socialize them to the people through social media. The government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, ensured that traveling in the new normal adaptation period, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, can be carried out safely.

They also work with all related parties in the tourism industry to have them follow guidelines and implement health protocols to ensure the safety of tourists.

"Our main concern for domestic tourists is their safety, and when health protocols are being strictly implemented, then safety can be ensured," he said.

The spokesperson further said that the government is currently focusing on attracting domestic travelers rather than foreign ones, owing to  COVID-19 that is still prevalent across the globe.

Meanwhile, Head of the Yogyakarta COVID-19 Task Force, Biwana Yuswantana said that the local government has prepared a number of health protocols and guidelines for activities to resume amid COVID-19 pandemic during the new normal adaptation period.

The Yogyakarta government will make sure that all parties in the tourism sector, including spots of attraction, hotels, and restaurants, are strictly following health protocols and the guidelines that have been given. (ANTARA)

North Kalimantan Governor Irianto Lambrie . (ANTARA/HO-Pemprov Kaltara)

North Kalimantan Governor Irianto Lambrie has said that five investors plan to build Kayan hydropower plants (PLTA Kayan) in North Kalimantan (Kaltara) Province.

"Of the five PLTA investors in Kaltara, I see that PT Kayan Hidro Energi (KHE) is the readiest to build the Kayan hydropower plants," Irianto Lambrie said in Tanjung Selor, on Saturday.

PT KHE still needed to obtain two more licenses, namely a renewal permit to use forest area, and permits for dam construction and safety certificate.

To build PLTA Kayan, PT KHE is in the preparations for the pre-construction process without large scale activities.

"They (PT KHE) have also disbursed around Rp2 trillion in funds for the acceleration of the realization of this project. So, they are really serious," the Governor said.

PLTA Kayan will have five dam construction projects, namely PT Kayan 1, Kayan 2, Kayan3, Kayan 4, and Kayan 5.

PLTA Kayan 1 with a capacity of 900 megawatts, has completed the licensing process covering feasibility study (FS), environmental impact assessment (Amdal), and detailed engineering design (DED).

The Kayan 2 will have a capacity of 1,200 megawatts and the Kayan 3 with a capacity of 1,800 megawatts. Their location permits have been obtained. Their feasibility studies, environmental impact analysis, and DED have been in progress and 50 percent completed.

The Kayan 4 and the Kayan 5 will have a capacity of 1,800 megawatts and 3,300 megawatts respectively.

Of a total of 27 licensing items that have to be obtained, KHE has completed 25 licensing items. The licensing application process has begun since 2011.

The hydropower plants will use water from five rivers existing in North Kalimantan.

In Nunukan District, there are Sembakung River and Sebuku River. In Bulungan, there is Kayan River. In Malinau, there are Mentarang River and Malinau River.

"For Sembakung River in Nunukan, the investor is PT Hanergi Power Indonesia with a plan to build a hydropower plant with a capacity of 250 megawatts. Its environmental impact assessment is in the process," the governor said.

Mentarang River in Malinau will support a hydropower plant with a capacity of 7,600 megawatts or 3,430 megawatts to be built by PT Kalimantan Electricity. its location permit and environmental impact analysis are being processed.

Hyundai Engineering is also interested in investing in a 300-megawatt hydropower plant development in Malinau. (ANTARA)

acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs Muhammad Hudori

Successful regional head elections (Pilkada) to be organized simultaneously in 270 regions in Indonesia's 32 provinces are part of the national agenda, according to acting Secretary-General of the Ministry of Home Affairs Muhammad Hudori.

"The 2020 simultaneous local elections will be organized in 270 regions in 32 provinces, except Aceh and Jakarta. Pilkada is a national agenda or a national strategic program, and it must be implemented successfully," Hudori said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

The simultaneous local elections must be carried out democratically as mandated by Indonesia's democratic system, he remarked.

He highlighted the importance of applying strict health protocols as the Pilkada will be held amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"An important point that I want to convey is that the election implementation process must follow the health protocols and be guided by democratic principles," he added.

In early July 2020, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian expressed his hope that the voter turnout in simultaneous Pilkada this year would reach at least 50 percent.

"The target of voter turnout that we expect is above 50 percent. If possible higher than that, it will be better," Tito Karnavian said while speaking during an online seminar on July 5, 2020.

The minister hoped at least some 53 million people would cast their votes in the upcoming elections this year.

Based on June 9 data, the number of eligible voters in the 2020 local elections is 106,774,112 people, according to Arief Budiiman, chairman of the National Elections Commission (KPU).

The 2020 simultaneous regional head elections will be held on December 9 to elect governors in nine provinces, district heads in 224 districts, and mayors in 37 cities

The local elections were initially scheduled to be organized on September 23, 2020, but owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is decided to be postponed. (ANTARA)