VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. The government disbursed Rp6.2 trillion Productive Aid for Micro Enterprises (BPUM) in the year ended March 31 to drive national economic growth in the 2021 first-quarter, Cooperative, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises Minister Teten Masduki stated.

"As of March 31, we have disbursed the BPUM 2021 to 5.2 million micro enterprises, with the aid totaling Rp6.29 trillion," Masduki stated during a work meeting with Commission VI of the House of Representatives on the evaluation of BPUM here on Thursday.

The government is targeted to disburse the productive aid to 9.8 million micro enterprises in 2021 wherein each beneficiary will receive Rp1.2 million.

The number of BPUM beneficiaries was lower as compared to 2020 that reached 12 million, with each of them receiving Rp2.4 million.

The minister attributed the decrease in the number of aid beneficiaries to insufficient government funding.

However, the ministry would seek to expand the aid beneficiaries and increase the number by three million.

"In fact, 9.8 million (beneficiaries) is still far from sufficient. The number of applicants is much higher, so we need the Finance Ministry’s help to increase (the number of aid beneficiaries) to 12 million," he noted.

The disbursement of productive aid is expected to boost the country's economic recovery. The program was designed by the ministry and the COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery Committee.

The BPUM will only be distributed to non-bankable micro-scale enterprises. The SMEs that already received bank loans will receive the assistance through credit restructurization, interest rate subsidy, and zero-percent interest rate for micro-loans below Rp10 million until December 2020. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. National Development Planning Minister/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Head Suharso Monoarfa affirmed that construction of the presidential palace in the planned new capital city will commence this year and is projected for completion in 2024.

"We are optimistic of the groundbreaking for the construction of the presidential palace to start this year. On August 17, 2024, the president can lead the August 17 (Independence Day ceremony) in the new capital,” Monoarfa remarked here on Thursday.

Meticulous calculations have been made for the construction work to be completed in 2024 including by taking into account the vaccination program targets and the achievement of herd immunity, according to the minister.

The Bappenas head expounded that his ministry and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) have harmonized the materials for the new capital city and urban design master plan.

Deputy Minister of National Development Planning/Deputy Head of Bappenas Rudy Soeprihadi Prawiradinata confirmed that the design of the state palace is currently in the initial stage process.

The state palace will be designed to resemble an eagle shape by Nyoman Nuarta's Nuart architectural bureau.

"The design is an initial idea that can be expanded and discussed with experts in the field of architecture and planners," he stated.

The capital will be located in East Kalimantan and is expected to create new economic growth centers.

Furthermore, the new capital city is projected to boost economic equality across Indonesia and open up millions of jobs following the expected growth of economic sectors with high added value, he noted.

It is also estimated to boost the economic structure of East Kalimantan and help it stand at par with developed countries, he stated.

The government also believes that development of the new capital will help to boost per capita income of Indonesians, so that it is equal to those offered in high-income nations, he remarked. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Residents in a dozen districts in Aceh Province are preparing for potential hydrometeorological disasters owing to heavy rains that may lash their neighborhood areas until Friday.

The downpours may batter the districts of Aceh Barat, Aceh Jaya, Pidie, Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya, Bener Meriah, Aceh Tengah, Pidie Jaya, Gayo Lues, Bireuen, Nagan Raya, Aceh Barat Daya, and Aceh Selatan, as well as Banda Aceh City, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated.

The early warning on extreme weather events was issued by the BMKG, the BMKG-Aceh Besar Office's spokesperson, Zakaria Ahmad, noted in a statement that ANTARA quoted here, Thursday.

The high-intensity rains potentially trigger medium-scale flooding in riverbanks and flat areas as well as landslides in hilly areas, Ahmad remarked while urging local residents to stay alert to hydrometeorological disasters, such as the flash floods and landslides.

Over the past week, the Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) noted that heavy downpours had triggered flooding in several districts, including Aceh Besar, Aceh Jaya, Aceh Barat, Pidie, and Aceh Tengah.

On Tuesday, persistent and heavy downpour had triggered floods in 14 villages in West Aceh District.

The flood-hit villages are located in the sub-districts of Woyla Timur, Woyla Barat, and Arongan Lambalek.

In certain areas, the floodwaters inundating houses in the affected villages reached one meter in height.

The affected villages comprised Napai, Blang Luah, Alue Leuho, Blang Dalam, Buket Meugajah, Blang Makmu, Gampong Baro KB, Tuwi Eumpeuk, Alue Seuralen, and Blang Luah.

Various parts of Indonesia are prone to natural disasters. Within the initial two months of 2021, several hydrological disasters have struck the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.

In Sumatra Island, for instance, flash floods and a landslide damaged seven homes and broke a bridge in Wih Ni Durin Village, Syiah Utama Sub-district, Bener Meriah District, Aceh Province, following incessant heavy rains in the Gayo highland area.

Meanwhile, in Java Island, landslides hit the Cihanjuang Village in Cimanggung Sub-district, Sumedang District, West Java Province.

On Feb 7, flash floods also inundated Semarang City's Kota Lama (Old Town) neighborhood and several other areas owing to incessant rains and tidal flooding. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Refugees, who escaped the fire at the Pertamina Balongan Refinery in Indramayu Regency of West Java, complained of upper respiratory tract infection (ISPA).

"On the third day, the refugees generally complained of respiratory problems," Dr Rizki stated at the refugee camp of Indramayu on Thursday. Rizki noted that refugees, not only the elderly and adults but also children, experienced upper respiratory problems.

In addition to respiratory problems, almost all refugees complained of gastric problems, which may be due to lack of food intake since the incident.

"The medical complaints are not too serious, so we can still handle it," he remarked.

Rizki stated that the health team also provided medicine to the refugees to help minimize the health problems they experienced.

"We give them appropriate medicine. When a resident suffers from a more severe illness, we refer them to the hospital," he noted.

Meanwhile, the health of children is constantly monitored. Moreover, officers from the Social Affairs Ministry provide trauma healing, so that the fire incident they experience does not cause trauma or psychological problems. (Antaranews)