Category: Miscellaneous

Badung, Bali (ANTARA) – Deputy Trade Minister Jerry Sambuaga visited traders at Bali’s Jimbaran Traditional Village Market, Saturday, to hear their complaints and suggestions and review prices of several staple goods, including rice, eggs, chilies, onions, oil, and chicken.Several traders, who had the opportunity to chat with Sambuaga, remarked that the prices of several staple goods, such as red cayenne pepper and shallots, continued to increase during Silence Day and the first day of Ramadan. Meanwhile, other traders, especially those selling affordable packaged cooking oil, Minyakita, pointed out that the demand for it was high, but traders were constrained by limited stocks. Sambuaga made assurance that the government continues to work to maintain the prices of staple goods. The deputy trade minister considered that it was normal for the prices of several staple goods to fluctuate before and during national religious holidays. In general, the prices of staple goods at the Jimbaran Traditional Village Market were stable, although the prices of some commodities increased while those of others decreased, he noted. “The stocks of staple goods are secure. Cooking oil, chilies, garlic, shallots, flour, and eggs are available in sufficient stocks,” he remarked. He noted that premium rice was priced at Rp13 thousand per kilogram; sugar, at Rp13,500 per kilogram; chicken meat, Rp35 thousand per kilogram; and eggs, Rp28,300 per kilogram. Furthermore, wheat flour costs Rp13,500 per kilogram; large red chilies priced at Rp35 thousand per kilogram; red cayenne pepper, Rp75 thousand per kilogram; red onion, Rp35 thousand per kilogram; and honan white garlic, Rp30 thousand per kilogram, he stated. Several traders at the market noted that the price of red cayenne pepper, as per Saturday, was still quite high, in the range of Rp70 thousand to Rp80 thousand per kilogram, while the normal price was Rp50 thousand per kilogram. Meanwhile, some traders pointed to a slight increase in the price of shallots, from the usual Rp28 thousand per kilogram to Rp30 thousand to Rp35 thousand per kilogram. “We will continue to see the price update in the next one or two days. Hopefully, the price can decrease,” Sambuaga remarked. Speaking in connection with the availability of Minyakita, the deputy minister noted that the government had increased its national supply, from 300 thousand tons per month to 450 thousand tons a month. “The Ministry of Trade will continue to monitor the availability and supply of Minyakita at the distributor and agent levels. I heard from traders that in the last few days, there has been an increase in demand for Minyakita,” he stated.

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands (ANTARA) – The Riau Islands provincial government has allocated a budget of Rp3.47 billion or US$228,876 to provide insurance coverage to 17,209 local fishermen through the State-Owned Social Security Agency (BPJAMSOSTEK).”The manpower social insurance aid program for fishermen in all of Riau Islands will be distributed immediately in 2023,” head of the Riau Islands Marine Affairs and Fishery OfficeSaid Sudrajat Nazlaninformed here on Saturday. He said that several conditions have been laid down for beneficiaries, including the fact that the aid will be prioritized for those who have never received social insurance aid. Moreover, the maximum age of the recipients will have to be 65 as of December 2022. The BPJAMSOSTEK aid is also intended for small or traditional fishermen who either use fishing vessels with a maximum weight of 5 gross tonnage (GT) or do not use fishing vessels. “In addition, they do not use fishing equipments that are banned based on the regulation,” he said. The BPJAMSOSTEK facility will be valid for a year. After it expires, fishermen can extend the coverage period on their own. ccording to Nazlan, BPJAMSOSTEK is very important because it provides insurance against the risk of death and any work accidents that individual fishermen could experience. The budget allocation of US$228,876 for 17,209 fishermen from the provincial government constitutes 50 percent of the collective financing scheme between the provincial and district/city governments. “We want fishermen across all of Riau Islands to receive protection because their job has a high risk, thus the worst-case scenario can be anticipated if it occurs,” Nazlan said. Meanwhile, the Maluku branch of BPJAMSOSTEK is targeting fishermen in Mamala village, Central Maluku district, for information dissemination concerning the benefits of the manpower social insurance program.

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Jakarta (ANTARA) – National flag carrier;nbsparuda Indonesia will not raise airfares during Eid al-Fitr 1444 H, and is instead providing special homecoming offers for travel to Jakarta, the airline’s President Director, Irfan Setiaputra, has informed.ruda Indonesia is providing the “homecoming to Jakarta” offers on tickets booked from March 3, 2023, to May 1, he informed when contacted from here on Saturday. The offers are available for flights from April 13 to May 1. Different airfares have been set depending on the location, with a one-way ticket to Jakarta from Bali costing around Rp1.4 million, Medan Rp1.7 million, Gorontalo Rp2.2 million, Padang Rp1.5 million, Surabaya Rp1.1 million, and Lombok Rp1.4 million. In addition, flights from Palu are priced at Rp1.7 million, Yogyakarta Rp900 thousand, Makassar Rp1.6 million, and Semarang Rp700 thousand. ruda Indonesia is also providing an extra baggage offer, with the tariff starting from Rp15 thousand, as well as a 20-percent GarudaMiles redemption discount. Meanwhile, to ensure safe and comfortable flights, the airline is following a standard operating procedure (SOP) in the form of a pre-flight checklist, Setiaputra informed. “We have what is called a checklist. If this is not met, there will be an action plan for collective safety and comfort,” he said. Earlier, the government asked airplane operators and airlines not to raise ticket fares on their own for this year’s Eid homecoming. “There is an important matter that we want to convey to operators: Please don’t raise the tariff on your own,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said. The minister underlined that the government has set an upper limit on ticket prices for transportation that will need to be complied with. He warned that operators violating the upper limit will invite stringent penalties.

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Currently, the drinking water service coverage has reached 91.05 percent and improvement of sanitation access stands at 80.92 percent. Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government has made water the main priority for development, Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said in an official statement issued on Friday.”Currently, the Indonesian government has aligned the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the 20202024 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) to realize 100-percent access to drinking water and sanitation,” he expounded. “Currently, the drinking water service coverage has reached 91.05 percent and improvement of sanitation access stands at 80.92 percent,” he informed. Indonesia’s effort to provide access to drinking water and proper sanitation for everyone has encountered several major challenges. These have included urbanization, climate change, water scarcity at certain times and locations, regional fiscal limitations, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has continued for more than three years. To achieve the drinking water and sanitation target, the ministry has undertaken several acceleration efforts, which have included the development of drinking water provision infrastructure by utilizing 61 new dams to improve water service capacity. Next, it has developed drinking water provision infrastructure to support national priority areas, such as the tourism area in Kalidendeng and Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, and the industrial area in Batang, Central Java. The PUPR Ministry is also making an effort to improve human resource capacity in water supply management by developing the Special Masters Program in cooperation with a partner university. It is also focusing on the integration of sanitation services by combining on-site and off-site systems or inclusive sanitation for all regions to ensure that the drinking water service can be accessed by everyone. The ministry has so far managed to support the provision of drinking water and sanitation to 37 thousand villages spread across 408 districts and cities. This has been achieved by involving the people in the Drinking Water Provision Program (Pamsimas) and Community-Based Sanitation (Sanimas) in the period from 2008 to 2022. In response to the digital transformation and performance improvement in clean water provision of the regional tap water company (PDAM), the government has created several technological innovations. These have included the implementation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) as well as waste management technology through the conversion of waste to energy. Lastly, to manage fund limitations, the ministry has also invited the participation of the private sector in the development of the Drinking Water Provision System (SPAM) through alternative funding such as public-private partnerships. baca-jugaRelated news: World Water Forum crucial for realizing SDGs: MinisterRelated news: World Water Council lauds Indonesia for massive dam-building

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Operators need to be cooperative by not increasing the tariff excessively. We (the government) have a price cap. Jakarta (ANTARA) – The government has asked airlines in Indonesiato not increase airfares “unreasonably” during the 2023 Eid Al-Fitr exodus flow.”There is an important thing that we want to convey to (airplane) operators: please do not increase the prices unreasonably,” Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said after a closed meeting with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to discuss the Eid exodus flow at the Presidential Office here on Friday. He emphasized that the government has set a ceiling for transportation ticket prices that will need to be obeyed. “We know that the public needs (transportation) for homecoming or vacation. Operators need to be cooperative by not increasing the tariff excessively. We (the government) have a price cap,” he said. If airlines set prices above the upper limit during the Eid exodus period, the government will impose strict sanctions, he said. The upper limit on ticket prices is a point where operators can get profits while still maintaining the people’s purchasing power, he added. “Hence, we always monitor the prices from day to day, be it planes, buses, or trains. (The upper limit) must not be violated; we will give sanction if it is violated. We ask operators and the media to help monitor and supervise these ticket prices,” Sumadi said. The minister also highlighted the predicted increase in the number of travelers during the Eid holiday period to 123 million people this year from 85 million in 2022. Meanwhile, 18 million people from the Greater Jakarta area, which comprises Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi, will travel during the holiday, an increase from 14 million the previous year, according to the ministry.s “This means that there are increases (in the number of travelers) of 47 percent nationally and 27 percent from the Greater Jakarta area,” the minister said. baca-jugaRelated news: Expect uptick in number of exodus participants this year: MinisterRelated news: Eid Holiday boosts spending, consumption indicating economic recovery

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Palangka Raya, Central Kaliman (ANTARA) – In the period from 2018 to 2020, the Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Ministry worked on 305 cases related to land mafia operations, of which, 145 were resolved or forwarded for legal proceedings.”Of the 305 cases targeted in the land mafia operation, as many as 145 have been concluded, or (forwarded) to the attorney,” Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Hadi Tjahjanto informed in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, on Friday. The figures reflect the ministry’s commitment to resolving the issue related to the land mafia, which has been a public concern all along, he added. The ministry will pursue stronger collaboration with regional governments, law enforcement agencies, and judicial agencies to prevent similar cases from happening all across the country, he said. “Because we all know, synergy and collaboration are the keys to combating land mafia,” Minister Tjahjanto underlined. Land mafia is everywhere, he said and warned that those who participate in the practice will be shown no mercy and given harsh punishment. The minister also expressed his intention to aggressively pursue land mafias. “Hence, let us combat land mafia together. We restrict land mafia’s space by maintaining area limits, using land as per its intended use; thus, through public participation and effective collaboration, we can fight against land mafia, all the way to its very roots,” Tjahjanto said. The minister then commended the performance of the Central Kalimantan Police Department and the Central Kalimantan Court in resolving a land mafia case involving a suspect named Madi Goening Sius. With the completion of all the files for the cases, all there is left to do is for the court proceedings to take place, he said. The minister also attended a press conference on land mafia cases at Central Kalimantan Police Station on Friday. The press meet was also joined by Central Kalimantan Governor H. Sugianto Sabran, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, Raja Juli Antoni, as well as other officials. baca-jugaRelated news: aRelated news: President Jokowi distributes 1.5 million land certificates for peopleRelated news: Police should extensively coordinate to address land mafia issues

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Exclusive breastfeeding has shown an upward trend from year to year, but the practice is not uniformly distributed across regions yet, according to the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.”Even though the trend is rising from year to year, the achievement must be increased, especially in terms of equal distribution in regions,” the ministry’s acting assistant deputy for the fulfillment of children’s rights to health and educationAnggin Nuzula Rahma said here on Friday. She conveyed the statement at the “Guide to Fasting for Pregnant, Breastfeeding Mothers, and Children” webinar. Exclusive breastfeeding is the provision of breast milk to babies from zero to 6 months without any other supplementary food. Rahma noted that, based on Statistics Indonesia’s (BPS’s) National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas), the percentage of children aged 023 months who were provided breast milk in the 20202022 period showed an upward trend, rising from 75.68 percent in 2020 to 77.01 percent in 2021 and then to 77.41 percent in 2022. One of the causes for failure in the provision of exclusive breastfeeding is the culture of providing food to babies shortly after they are born, she noted. “There is a culture in the community that considers babies after birth must be trained, given a little water, mashed bananas. This is actually not allowed. This has caused failure in the government’s program regarding exclusive breastfeeding,” she said. nother problem is that the period of exclusive breastfeeding is too short. She further said that children under five who are not given exclusive breastfeeding from birth have a 4.8 times higher risk of stunting compared to those who are given exclusive breastfeeding from birth. “Because the baby’s stomach is very small, breast milk alone can perfectly meet all the nutritional needs of the baby,” she said. baca-jugaRelated news: Exclusive breastfeeding important for children’s growth: Ministrybaca-jugaRelated news: BKKBN encourages breastfeeding to prevent stunting in childrenRelated news: BKKBN bolstering lactation education among working mothers

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has sought to improve financial literacy and inclusion by issuing Regulation (POJK) No. 3 of 2023 on financial literacy and inclusion improvement in the financial services sector for consumers and the public.The new regulation is an improvement of POJK No. 76/POJK.07/2016, head of the OJK’s financial literacy, inclusion, and communication departmentAman Santosasaid in a statement issued on Friday. It has been issued to strengthen synergy between the government and financial service business actors (PUJK) in carrying out activities to improve financial literacy and inclusion. “Improvement of stipulation within POJK No. 3 of 2023 is intended to support the government’s target of reaching financial inclusion index of 90 percent by 2024 and OJK’s program to improve financial literacy,” he informed. The new regulation will also accommodate the dynamic development of information technology and increase the number of financial literacy and inclusion activities by optimizing the roles of businesspersons. It will also accommodate the impact of financial service sector development with the emergence of new businesspersons and improve the utilization of the financial education learning management system. Meanwhile, the activities to improve financial literacy are expected to make people more cautious in choosing and utilizing financial service products and services. This also needs to be followed by improving financial inclusion by easing people’s access to financial products. POJK No. 3 of 2023 will seek to strengthen financial inclusion and literacy activities, for instance, by involving new businesspersons who emerge as a result of financial service sector development in improving financial literacy and inclusion. Through the new regulation, monitoring to protect consumers will also be bolstered by mandating businesspersons to deliver a report on their financial literacy and inclusion activity plan and its realization to related parties. The stipulation concerning the management of activities to improve financial literacy and inclusion by financial service institutions has also been strengthened. Moreover, the penalty on financial service institutions that violate the established regulation has also been made more stringent through the regulation, he said. baca-jugaRelated news: Aceh’s financial inclusion recorded at above national rate: OJKRelated news: University students need to know financial literacy, inclusion: OJKRelated news: Increasing financial inclusion through Pre-Employment Card Program

Source: Antara News Agency (ANA)