VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The latest update on COVID-19 in Indonesia sees Jakarta with 382 new cases today, July 22. The additional cases bring the capital's tally to 17,535, with 11,187 recoveries and 766 deaths.

"As per today we can report that 1,205 patients are still treated in hospitals and 4,377 are in self-isolation (including data from Wisma Atlet),” said Dwi Oktavia Tatri, head of disease prevention and control at the Jakarta Health Office.

Dwi added that there are 877 suspects of Covid-19 in self-isolation, while 1,379 are treated in hospitals.

There are also 7,159 people recorded to have been in close contact with confirmed cases. They are also in self-quarantine.  

Jakarta's highest daily number of cases was 441, which was on July 21. During the eases restriction period, known locally as 'PSBB transisi', Jakarta is seeing upticks in new cases, with new records on July 8 (344), July 11 (359), and July 12 (404). (tempo.co)

Masked officers stand guard at the entrance of Kelor Island in Komodo National Park, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara province on Saturday (July 18, 2020). (ANTARA/Kornelis Kaha/sw)

Tourists planning to visit Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park in the new normal period will need to register online through a certified, local travel agent, the Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, stated.

“During the new normal (period), we (will) limit (the number of) tourists visiting Labuan Bajo as well as Komodo National Park. Hence, everyone (planning to visit the areas will) have to first secure online registration,” head of the bureau, Agustinus Rinus, told ANTARA on Wednesday.

“They will also need to choose an official travel agent who is registered on our database, (and) who has an office here in Labuan Bajo. Other than that, they would not be permitted (to visit the areas),” he elaborated, adding that the measure has been taken to help travel agents sustain their businesses.

The bureau plans to allow up to 25 tourists a day with a view to curb coronavirus transmission. Tourists can register themselves on https://booking.labuanbajoflores.id/.

“Boats entering tourism spots will also be limited. Here, the online registration would help us to record, (and) avoid boat crowding at each spot,” Rinus noted.

The Tourism Bureau of West Manggarai has allowed Labuan Bajo Tourism Authorities and the Komodo National Park Office to reopen in three phases. The first phase began on July 6, 2020, with the areas throwing their gates open to local tourists only.

In the second phase, the two tourist spots will allow domestic visitors, and in the last phase, domestic as well as international tourists will be allowed entry into the areas, with the implementation of health protocols. (ANTARA)

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) registered a 4.3-percent decrease in the realization of investment during the second quarter (Q2) of 2020, reaching Rp191.9 trillion, from the Rp200.5-trillion investment during the corresponding period last year.

BKPM Head Bahlil Lahadalia stated in Jakarta on Wednesday that investment during the April-June period had dropped 8.9-percent as compared to the investment of Rp210.7 trillion in the first quarter of the year.

"Our target is more than Rp200 trillion for the second quarter. However, we are all aware of the tough situation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The second-quarter period is quite tough," he noted.

The realization of foreign investment in the second quarter of 2020 reached Rp97.6 trillion, or 50.9 percent of the total investment, while domestic investment was recorded at 49.1 percent, or some Rp94.3 trillion.

Investment during the period was recorded in the five main sectors of electricity, gas and water; transportation, warehouse and telecommunication; industry of basic metal, metal goods and non-machinery; food industry; and housing, industrial area and offices.

The investment was in Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Banten, and Riau, with investors coming from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, and South Korea.

The realization of investment in the first semester of 2020 had reached Rp402.6 trillion, or 49.3 percent of the targeted Rp817.2 trillion in 2020. It increased 1.8 percent from the investment of Rp395.6 trillion in the first semester of the previous year.

Investment in the first semester of 2020 was recorded mainly in the sectors of transportation, warehouse, and telecommunication; electricity, gas and water; basic metal, metal goods, non-machinery; housing, industrial area, and offices; and food industry.

The investment was in West Java, East Java, Jakarta, Central Java, and Riau, with investors hailing from Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Malaysia.

Investment in the second quarter of 2020 absorbed 263,109 workers in 34,658 projects, thereby bringing the total workforce absorbed in the first semester to 566,194, spread across 57,815 projects. (ANTARA)

Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Bahlil Lahadalia.

The Meru Betiri National Park management, local authorities of Jember, East Java, and representatives of local villagers. (ANTARA/HO-KLHK)

The Meru Betiri National Park management in East Java has involved the residents of 10 adjoining villages in its conservation efforts centered on restoring the ecosystem and concurrently boosting the local economy.

The one thousand-ha conservation area, under the management of the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry (KLHK), holds economic potential and is of high value since it is a life buffer for the surrounding community, Head of the Meru Betiri National Park Office Maman Surahman noted in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The local villagers have become involved in a community-based ecosystem recovery program through conservation partnerships.

These locals are provided access to collect non-timber forest products in the traditional zone and permits to run small ecotourism businesses.

"We empower communities surrounding the area so that its utilization is sustainable and is in accordance with conservation strategies," he remarked.

The management of the Meru Betiri National Park has also conducted activities to boost the capacity of the community and to empower it.

The local communities have been involved to attend training programs on producing herbal beverages; batik dyeing with natural dyes; making durian ice-cream, and conducting mushroom, goat, chicken, and catfish farming, among others.

The rate of deforestation is quite high in the Meru Betiri National Park, for which there is a pressing need for conducting restoration, he stated.

Degradation has occurred in some 6.5 percent or 3,382 hectares (ha) of the national park's total conservation area reaching 52,626.04 ha.

Surahman attributed this condition to illegal logging or forest looting and encroachment.

"Various efforts have been made to reduce the level of community dependence on forest areas through disseminating information, raising awareness, conducting routine patrols, and taking steps to boost the community's economy," he added. (ANTARA)