Day: November 28, 2022

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Social assistance budget realization reaches 97.35%: ministry

The distribution of the social assistance budget has reached 97.35 percent this year, Secretary General of the Social Affairs Ministry Harry Hikmat informed here on Monday.

“Specifically, the spending on social assistance spending has been realized by 97.35 percent this year,” he informed during a forum group discussion (FGD) on the “Distribution of Social Assistance in 2022” with Commission VIII of the House of Representatives in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday (November 26, 2022).

According to the Social Affairs Ministry, the budget for social assistance in 2022 was Rp92,965,933,146,000, or around US$5.9 billion.

“Members can coordinate with state-owned postal company PT Pos on the implementation of social assistance distribution in each political district,” Hikmat said.

Meanwhile, the Nusantara Economic Hero (PENA) program has been implemented and is targeting 2,800 beneficiary families (KPMs), Director General of Social Empowerment at the ministry Edi Suharto informed.

“What will be difficult is to synchronize KPM data with the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS). We hope that the House of Representatives’ expert (team) and the ministry team will help each other in the PENA process,” he said.

The PENA program’s implementation has reached the assessment completion and goods purchasing stage, Secretary of the Directorate General of Social Empowerment Benny Sujanto said.

In the initial stage, the PENA program is being conducted in Banyumas, Central Java, and Sukabumi, West Java. “The (implementation) process is in stages,” Sujanto added.

During the discussion, the House members shared information obtained from regions that there are still people who have not been registered in the DTKS. The House said that it expects the ministry to immediately process the data of people who require social assistance.

The FGD participants agreed that the distribution of social assistance would be completed by December 20 this year due to the closing of the state budget book or ledger.

 

Source: Antara News

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House will process new TNI commander appointment quickly: Maharani

Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani on Monday said that the House will process the appointment of the new Indonesian Military (TNI) commander without delay.

“It will be processed as soon as possible; before the closing of the Session Period on December 15, 2022,” Maharani informed at the Parliament Complex here on Monday.

On Monday, the House received the President’s statement letter naming Admiral Yudo Margono as the candidate for the new TNI commander.

According to Maharani, Article 13, Section 6 of Law 34 of 2004 concerning TNI states that the House must convey its approval or disapproval of the TNI commander candidate selected by the President in no later than 20 days, excluding the recess period.

“Therefore, there are still 17 days to process it before the recess period,” she noted.

She informed that the House will hold a leadership meeting (Rapim), a Deliberative Body meeting (Bamus), and then assign the House’s Commission I to conduct the appropriateness test of the candidate.

The commission usually visits candidates’ residences to learn more about them.

“The House still has enough time to implement all the mechanisms for replacing and appointing the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander in accordance with the law. None of the procedures and requirements will be missed,” the House Speaker emphasized.

At a press conference, State Secretary Minister Pratikno expressed his gratitude for the House’s commitment to processing the President’s statement letter on the TNI commander candidate before the institution enters its recess period on December 15.

The President’s statement letter was handed over directly by Minister Pratikno to Maharani at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Monday.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has selected Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Yudo Margono as the candidate for the new TNI Commander to replace General Andika Perkasa, who will retire on December 21.

 

Source: Antara News

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Ministry optimistic food industry to grow amid global recession risk

The Industry Ministry is optimistic that the food and beverage industry will continue to grow by five to seven percent in 2023 despite the risk of a global recession.

“We are optimistic that the food and beverage industry will grow by more than 5 percent since we have seen that the growth in some sub-sectors (of the industry) has reached double digits,” director of food, seafood products, and fisheries industry at the ministry Emil Satria said here on Monday.

One of the examples has been the canned fish industry, which has grown by about 10 percent, he pointed out.

Secretary general of the ministry Dody Widodo said that Indonesia has been considered successful in mitigating COVID-19 transmission, hence, the country’s economy, including the industrial sector, has started to revive.

“It is shown by the performance of the non-oil and gas processing industry, which is gradually recovering and recorded a growth of 4.88 percent in the third quarter of 2022,” he added.

In addition, Indonesia’s purchasing manager’s index (PMI) reached 51.8 in October 2022, indicating the sector is expanding, he said.

Furthermore, the export value of the food and beverage industry, including palm oil, reached US$35.99 billion in the period from January to September 2022.

The figure was significantly higher than for food and beverage imports during the same period, whose value was pegged at US$12.76 billion.

In addition, the food and beverage industry attracted a total investment of Rp41.37 trillion until the second quarter of 2022 and absorbed about 5.5 million workers.

The condiment sub-sector, which includes soy sauce, chili sauce, tomato sauce, and seasoning production, was one of the sub-sectors that recorded a positive trade balance.

In January–September 2022, Indonesia’s exports of condiment products reached US$175.8 million, while the import value of the products was US$90.5 million.

Indonesia’s main export condiment products were seasoning and soy sauce.

Currently, Indonesia is ranked as the 15th-largest condiment product exporter in the world.

“Its (the condiment sub-sector’s) export value is potentially able to be increased since Indonesia has wealthy raw materials for spices and diverse seasonings,” the ministry’s secretary said.

 

Source: Antara News

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ASEAN Deaf Games: Indonesia claims second spot with 10 golds

Indonesia bagged 10 gold medals in the first edition of the 2022 ASEAN Deaf Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 20–27, 2022.

According to a statement issued by the Indonesian Sports Association for the Deaf (Porturin) on Monday, the contingent managed to snatch all gold medals in badminton.

Indonesian athletes won all six events contested in the sport, namely the team event, men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, as well as mixed doubles.

The contingent also struck gold in four athletics events—javelin throw, shot-put, discus throw, and the 200-meter dash.

Meanwhile, futsal was the only sport in which the Indonesian team did not win any gold medals, with both the men’s and women’s teams ending as runners-up in their respective events.

Still, with a medal tally of 10 golds, 12 silvers, and 12 bronzes, Indonesia managed to claim second place.

Meanwhile, Malaysia emerged as the champion of the first edition of the ASEAN Deaf Games with 15 gold, 22 silver, and 12 bronze medals.

The Indonesian contingent comprised 52 athletes who competed in three of the four sports contested in the games. Indonesia did not take part in bowling.

A total of six countries participated in the 2022 ASEAN Deaf Games, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Earlier, Porturin had helped deaf athletes to compete in the Asia Pacific Deaf Badminton Championships in Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand, from September 14–21.

Indonesia bagged two gold medals in the tournament. Ilyas Rachman Ryandhani secured the first gold medal for the contingent in the men’s singles event after defeating his compatriot, Edi Susanto.

The second gold medal was won by Ryandhani and Susanto in the men’s doubles event.

 

Source: Antara News

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Cianjur quake death toll reaches 323: district head

The death toll from the earthquake in Cianjur, West Java, increased to 323, eight days after it struck the district, head of Cianjur district Herman Suherman informed on Monday.

“(As per) The latest data as of Monday, the death toll was recorded at 323 people,” he said at an online press conference, which was followed from Jakarta on Monday.

The number of missing was recorded at 9, he added.

“We will continue the search tomorrow. Hopefully, the bodies can be found,” he said.

He informed that the 108 people who were seriously injured in the quake were still hospitalized for treatment.

“The victims with minor injuries have been treated and have returned to their respective homes,” Suherman said.

Meanwhile, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Lieutenant General Suharyanto, said that the Cianjur district head would be fully in charge of carrying out tasks in the field for handling the earthquake, including searching for and helping victims and handling refugees.

“He will have full control regarding the implementation of tasks in the field, both in searching and assistance related to handling refugees, evacuation, and the construction of damaged houses,” he informed at a virtual press conference on Sunday.

The Cianjur earthquake has been designated as a regional disaster, therefore, it will be handled by the regional government until the situation returns to normal. Suherman, as the head of Cianjur district, will be the commander of the task force for handling the quake.

However, the central government will still assist and provide optimal assistance, Suharyanto said.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Cianjur district at 1:21 p.m. local time on November 21, 2022. It was centered 10 kilometers southwest of the district at a depth of 10 km. It did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.

The number of homes damaged in the earthquake was recorded at 58,049. Around 25,186 houses were seriously damaged, 12,496 moderately damaged, and 20,367 houses were lightly damaged in the quake.

The damaged infrastructure included 368 schools, 144 places of worship, 14 health facilities, and 16 buildings or offices. A total of 16 districts and 146 villages were affected by the earthquake.

 

Source: Antara News

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Study travel courses make outdoor classes both educational and entertaining in east China

Xiangjiadang, a scenic lakeside area in Jiaxing City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, is bathing in a brilliant golden yellow color in early winter. Recently, a study travel activity featuring nature and farming experiences attracted the participation of many teachers and students in local primary and secondary schools.

 

The children, accompanied by their parents, went to the fields of Xiangjiadang to sketch and harvest rice. With a palette in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, some students, like little painters, painted the rice in front of them. Meanwhile, other students rolled up their sleeves and harvested the rice like farmers. They carefully stacked the cut rice neatly together and waited for the threshing. What they held in hands was not only the harvested rice, but also a sense of achievement.

 

After experiencing the charm of the rice paddies and the fun of the autumn harvest, the students also explored a digital factory, and visited the Red Boat Zongzi (a glutinous rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves) plant to learn about the time-honored brand’s development. In each of the study travel bases, they got to learn about the hard work of farming and farmers’ fortitude through field trips.

 

“Xiangjiadang is close to the downtown area and features the integration of water towns, pastoral scenery and natural lake scenery in the south of the Yangtze River. It is wonderful to let the children feel the richness and beauty of our land of fish and rice in places nearby,” One of the students’ parents said after participating in the activity.

 

Located in the northeast of Jiaxing, Xiangjiadang enjoys a natural endowment of 10,000 mu of nourishing farmland, 10,000 mu of water and 10,000 mu of forest. Since the beginning of this year, the region has paid special attention to the quality and popularity of the study travel courses to develop in-depth study tours, according to Jiaxing Xiangjiadang Regional Development and Construction Management Committee.

 

For example, the region has rolled out a farming experience course in the agricultural sector, including trying transplanting rice in spring and harvesting rice in autumn. The study travel course allows students to experience the whole process of farming throughout the year, enhances their practical ability, enriches contacts with the natural pastoral life, relaxes their body and mind, cultivates the good habit of cherishing food, and makes study travel truly an educational and entertaining second classroom.

 

Since the beginning of this year, Xiangjiadang has received more than 5,000 visitors from Jiaxing Experimental Primary School, Jiaxing Xiuzhou Middle School, Northeast Normal University and other study travel teams. The students can stay close to the nature while feel the charm of technology. These experiences will become wonderful memories that will stay with them for years to come.

 

 

Source: Antara News

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Inputs on KIA Bill will reflect in problem inventory list: minister

Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga has assured that the inputs from various parties on the Mother and Child Welfare (KIA) Bill will be accommodated during the drafting of the Problem Inventory List.

“The government has carried out various dialogues, consultations, and discussions involving the public, academics, mass media, and other elements to accommodate various inputs and good practices that have existed in the field,” she said during a working meeting on the KIA Bill in Jakarta on Monday.

Thus, it is hoped that the compiled problem inventory list will reflect the complexities of the problems related to mother and child welfare, she added.

Puspayoga said that through the DIM, the government will propose provisions for maternal and child welfare, including rights and responsibilities, KIA administering, data and information, funding, and community participation in the bill.

The implementation of maternal and child welfare measures is aimed at creating a sense of security and comfort for mothers and children, she added.

In addition, the bill is expected to help enhance the quality of life of mothers and children; realize superior human resources; guarantee efforts to protect, fulfill, and uphold the rights of mothers and children; fulfill their basic needs; and protect them against violence, neglect, and all discriminatory acts and human rights violations.

The government is of the view that the urgent need for the KIA Bill can be seen from the philosophical, sociological, and juridical aspects, wherein it has become necessary to establish a law that regulates the welfare of mothers and children in a comprehensive manner, the minister said.

“In principle, the government welcomes and is willing to conduct more in-depth and comprehensive discussions in accordance with the mechanism for discussing statutory regulations,” she added.

Puspayoga further said that the Mother and Child Welfare Bill is expected to be a manifestation of the aspirations and commitment of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government to comprehensively regulate the welfare of Indonesian mothers and children.

“The government welcomes the initiative from DPR for drafting the Mother and Child Welfare Bill,” she disclosed.

 

Source: Antara News

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East Java sends medical team to assist Cianjur quake victims

The East Java provincial government has deployed a Disaster Medical Team (DMT) to assist in the treatment of earthquake victims in Cianjur District.

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who is currently on a working visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, informed on Monday that the DMT’s members have been drawn from Hajj Regional Hospital (RSUD) Surabaya, which has been providing mobile health services at Cijedil Health Center since November 26, 2022.

“This follows the arrival of DMT from provincial and district/city hospitals, as well as professional organizations to provide health services by bringing supplies according to the results of the Rapid Health Assessment (RHA),” she said.

After the earthquake hit Cianjur on November 21, the East Java provincial government deployed an advance team comprising personnel from the Health Service, Social Service, and the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

The task of the advance team was to carry out RHA, namely to gauge the situation and security, and determine the logistical needs of residents affected by the earthquake.

Based on data recorded at the disaster site, the number of Cianjur victims served by the East Java DMT stood at 223.

“Alhamdulillah (Praise God), the East Java DMT is very complete consisting of specialist doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, logistics personnel, administration personnel, and drivers. Apart from that they also brought medicines, simple medical devices, ambulances, and operational cars,” Parawansa said.

She welcomed the synergy and cooperation of all parties in East Java in providing assistance to the Cianjur earthquake victims.

“Thank you to all teams starting from provincial, district/city hospitals, as well as professional organizations that are members of DMT, including from Soetomo Hospital, Hajj Hospital, Menur Hospital, Saiful Anwar Hospital, Soedono Madiun Hospital, Sidoarjo Hospital, East Java Eye Hospital, East Java Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), and Malang Brawijaya University who have been willing to help the earthquake victims,” she said.

The governor said she hopes that the cooperation will ease the burden and support the process of evacuating the victims of the Cianjur earthquake.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Cianjur district at 1:21 p.m. local time on November 21. It was centered 10 kilometers southwest of the district at a depth of 10 km. It did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.

Meanwhile, Cianjur district head Herman Suherman informed that as of Monday, the death toll reached 323, while 108 people who were seriously injured in the quake were still hospitalized for treatment.

 

Source: Antara News

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