VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A Youtube video uploaded by the Jakarta administration’s account on Sunday saw Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan presenting the city’s plan to fund students entering private schools. 

The governor argues that COVID-19 pandemic has increased the costs of living in the capital city, which also includes the costs of education. 

“It is a bigger burden to be living nowadays in Jakarta, not just because of the rising costs, but also because of the dropping income,” said Anies Baswedan on Sunday evening of July 19. He maintains that the surging costs of living must not, in any way, stop students from being able to go to school. 

“Education is costly. But it would be even costlier if [people are left] uneducated. It would cost the government more if someone does not go to school,” said the governor. (tempo.co)

Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian reminded regional head candidates not to hold campaigns or rallies that bring together more than 50 people during the 2020 regional heads' elections. The restriction is aimed at preventing difficulties to implement health protocols in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Tito said that if organizers cannot obey the rule or control their supporters, the Elections Supervising Agency or Bawaslu will give one or two warnings, and disqualify them if it happens again for the third time.

Tito made the statement on July 20 during a briefing in the coordination meeting to prepare for the 2020 elections in Central Kalimantan. The local Covid-19 Task Force was also present.

Tito also asked for the regulation of the election to include mandatory compliance of health protocols for regional heads candidates and their supporters, such as the use of masks, face shields, protective gear, and others. He also hopes candidates will distribute campaign items in the form of masks and hand sanitizers.

"If one candidate can give out 100,000 masks, this means we can get 54 million masks for the public. They can also give out sanitizers," Tito Karnavian said. 

He advised the public to vote for leaders who are capable of mitigating Covid-19 in their respective regions, as well as have a good strategy to revive the local economy that has been weakened by the pandemic and lockdown. (tempo.co)

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)