VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Mount Merapi erupted twice on Monday morning, emitting scorching clouds as far as 1.5 kilometers (km) in the southwest direction.

"Based on data compiled by the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG), during the first instance, hot clouds slid as far as 1.3 km at 2:03 a.m. local time, with an amplitude of 40 mm and for a duration of 134 seconds," Head of the Center for Disaster Information and Communication Data of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Raditya Jati stated here on Monday.

During the second instant, hot clouds billowed as far as 1.5 km at 5:11 a.m. local time, with an amplitude of 48 mm and for a duration of 150 seconds.

According to monitoring conducted from 00:00 a.m. to 6 a.m. local time, the BNPB reported overcast and rainy weather over Mount Merapi, with weak to moderate winds blowing to the east.

Furthermore, air temperatures of 14-21 degrees Celsius were recorded around the mountain, with humidity of 75-96 percent, air pressure of 565-700 mmHg, and a rainfall volume of three mm per day.

"Based on observation conducted since November 5, 2020, until today, we conclude that effusive eruptions were still quite high during the volcanic activity of Mount Merapi," Jati noted.

The BNPB has advised people against conducting activities in areas of potential danger and to stay alert to the dangers of lava, particularly when it rains around the mountain. Temporary suspension in mining activities in the rivers around Mount Merapi in the disaster-prone area III are recommended.

"Tourists are recommended to not conduct activities in areas of potential danger and around the crater within a radius of five kilometers from the mountain's peak," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the BPPTKG continues to maintain the alert status of Mount Merapi at Level III.

The lava and hot clouds emitted from Mount Merapi’s areas are projected to affect areas in the south to the southwest: Sungai Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih.

In the meantime, Mount Merapi's volcanic materials can disperse as far as three kilometers from the mountain's peak.

In the event of a significant change in activity, the activity status of the mountain will be reviewed immediately. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Domestic tourists are the key to bringing about a recovery in Indonesia’s tourism economy, according to Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahudin Uno.

The ministry is currently developing five super-priority tourist destinations under the New Bali program to attract domestic tourists.

"Some Rp150 trillion came from domestic tourists traveling abroad. We are aiming that the five new super-priority destinations, with these strategic national tourism areas, would be able to grab the opportunity or reallocate part of the public funds for traveling abroad," Uno remarked during a webinar titled "Reimagining the Future of Indonesia" on Monday.

The Indonesian government has planned to develop the five tourist destinations called the five New Bali program since 2019.

The five destinations are Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika-Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

Development of the five tourist destinations is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, from initially at the end of 2020.

"We are striving to make domestic tourists as our mainstay and our backbone. We take the role that is left behind. The term is replacement value,” the minister stated.

Uno believes that Indonesian tourism in future will change with the inculcation of new habits amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister believes that tourism entrepreneurs and the creative economy in Indonesia are currently working on personalized, customized, localized, and smaller-size tourism.

“Local tourism operators focus on providing tourism experiences to tourists based on health and safety. I am sure that the number of tourists from Indonesia will return to normal and through the promotion of the CHSE certification. In the coming months, we will optimize it fully, so that 34 million creative economy workers would not only be able to survive but also be able to seize the opportunity to become winners," he affirmed. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Provisions pertaining to holidays and the homecoming exodus during Idul Fitr 2021 will be decided before the month of Ramadan.

"We have yet to decide about the homecoming exodus during Lebaran. Before fasting, the government will decide on provisions related to the holidays and homecoming exodus during Lebaran this year," Vice President Ma'ruf Amin stated after observing the COVID-19 vaccination at the Lampung Governor's Office in Bandar Lampung on Monday.

The government will take into account the varied impacts of the policy on the economic and health sectors to arrive at a decision on giving the go-ahead for the 2021 homecoming exodus.

"In principle, what we will consider is the impact on increasing the transmission of COVID-19," he noted.

The government would enforce a strict ban on the public for the homecoming exodus during Lebaran if it were to have an impact on the transmission and spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia.

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi had earlier confirmed that the government will not ban the homecoming exodus, locally called "mudik," during Idul Fitr 2021.

"The government, through the Transportation Ministry, has not prohibited the homecoming exodus during Lebaran this year," Minister Sumadi stated at a working meeting with Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Tuesday.

Sumadi spoke of the ministry’s intent to coordinate and work along with the COVID-19 Task Force by intensifying efforts and tracing people, who were going home.

Furthermore, the ministry has issued seven policies pertaining to transportation for Lebaran comprising endeavors to continue to rigorously disseminate information on health protocols and implement them from the point of departure, during the trip, and when the travelers arrived at their destination.

"If the impact of transmission is large, then there will definitely be a ban. If it can be minimized, then of course, there are other ways. Indeed, the homecoming exodus is a tradition of our society, but there are dangers we face if we allow it," the vice president cautioned. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto spoke in favor of the Job Creation Law, affirming that it had aided in lowering the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the employment sector.

"The enactment of this law is very timely since it will help to reduce the negative impacts of COVID-19 on those affected, especially in the employment sector," Minister Hartarto remarked while opening an online discussion titled "Reimagining The Future of Indonesia" in Jakarta on Monday.

The coordinating minister opined that the Job Creation Act had served a bridge between the short-term and long-term COVID-19 handling programs.

As a central player in the Indonesian economy, the minister affirmed that the government had offered protection facilities and empowerment through incentives and financing for MSME players.

"The benefits of the Job Creation Law for MSMEs include offering the ease of obtaining business license through registration, obtaining free halal certificates, and enabling an individual to establish a company or PT with self-determined capital," Hartarto remarked.

Furthermore, the Online Single Submission (OSS) system, targeted to be implemented in July 2021, will simplify the business licensing process.

The minister pointed out that the government had passed various derivative regulations on manpower and established the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) to drive economic growth.

“The government has established the INA as a long-term financing alternative. To encourage infrastructure development, the government has consulted with 50 companies and potential strategic partners," Hartarto noted.

The coordinating minister stated that the government had readied an additional budget of Rp60 trillion as INA capital to realize its activities.

"In early 2020, an initial capital of Rp15 trillion was allocated, and in 2021, an additional Rp60 trillion was prepared. It is hoped that in the first quarter, the Indonesia Investment Authority would realize this activity," he affirmed.

Through multifarious endeavors, Hartarto is upbeat about 2021 being a turning point for the challenges posed by the pandemic and expects stakeholders to partake in ensuring that the various prepared policies are effectively operationalized. (Antaranews)