Jokowi's Complete Statement Sets Emergency Health Status because of Corona
Source: detikNews
Date: 31 March 2020
Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has decided on the central government's policy to deal with the latest Coronavirus (COVID-19), namely Large-Scale Social Restrictions. For this reason, Jokowi asked all local governments not to take their own policies.
"To overcome the impact of the outbreak, I have decided in a cabinet meeting that the option we choose is Large-Scale Social Restrictions or PSBB," Jokowi said in a live broadcast from the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat, Tuesday (3/31/2020).
The PSBB, called Jokowi, is officially and in accordance with the law, will be determined by the Minister of Health. In addition, Jokowi asked the National Police to act decisively in terms of law enforcement to support the PSBB.
"The government has also issued a Government Regulation (PP) on Large-Scale Social Restrictions and the Presidential Decree on the Establishment of a Public Health Emergency to carry out the mandate of the law," Jokowi said.
"With the issuance of this PP everything is clear. I asked the regional heads not to make their own policies that are not coordinated, all policies in the region must comply with regulations, be in the coordination with the law, and PP also the Presidential Decree," he added.
The following is Jokowi's complete statement:
The government has determined COVID-19 as a type of disease with risk factors that lead to public health emergencies and therefore the government establishes public health emergency status. To overcome the impact of the outbreak I decided in a cabinet meeting that the option we chose was a Large-Scale Social Restrictions or PSBB.
In accordance with this PSBB Law, it is stipulated by the Minister of Health in coordination with the Head of the COVID-19 Task Force and regional heads. The legal basis is Law No. 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine.
The government has also issued a Government Regulation (PP) on Large-Scale Social Restrictions and the Presidential Decree on the Establishment of a Public Health Emergency to carry out the mandate of the law.
With the issuance of this PP, everything is clear. I ask the regional heads not to make their own policies that are not coordinated, all policies in the region must comply with regulations, be in the coordination with the law, and PP also the Presidential Decree.
The Indonesian National Police can also take measurable and law enforcement steps in accordance with the law so that the PSBB can be effective and achieve the objective of preventing an outbreak.
We must learn from the experiences of other countries but we cannot just imitate it, because all countries have their own characteristics, have their own characteristics, be it area, population, discipline, geographical conditions, character and culture, the economy of the people, their fiscal ability, and so on. Therefore, we must not be careless in formulating strategies. Everything must be calculated. Everything must be calculated carefully. And the core of our policy is very clear and firm.
First, public health comes first. Therefore, control the spread of COVID-19 and treat exposed patients.
Second, we prepare a social safety net for the low-income community to be able to meet basic needs and maintain purchasing power.
Third, maintain the business world, especially micro-businesses, small businesses, medium businesses in order to continue operating and be able to maintain the absorption of their workforce.
And on this occasion, I will focus on preparing assistance for the low-income community.
First about PKH (Family Hope Program). The number of beneficiary families will be increased from 9.2 million to 10 million beneficiary families. While the magnitude of the benefits will be increased by 25 percent, for example, the component of pregnant women will increase from Rp 2.4 million to Rp 3 million per year, the early childhood component Rp 3 million per year, the disability component Rp 2.4 million per year. And the policies active starting April 2020.
Second, basic food cards. The number of recipients will be increased from 15.2 million to 20 million beneficiaries and the value will increase by 30 percent from Rp 150 thousand to Rp 200 thousand and will be given for 9 months.
The third is about pre-employment cards. The pre-employment card budget has been increased from Rp 10 trillion to Rp 20 trillion. The number of beneficiaries is 5.6 million people, mainly for informal workers and micro and small businesses affected by COVID-19 and the value of the benefits is Rp 650 thousand to Rp 1 million per month over the next 4 months.
The fourth is about electricity tariffs. I need to say that for 450 VA electricity customers, the number of which is around 24 million customers, will be free for the next 3 months, namely for April, May, June 2020. Whereas for 900 VA customers, the number of which is around 7 million customers will be discounted by 50 percent meaning that they only pay half of the month for April, May, June 2020.
The fifth is about the anticipation of basic needs. The government has allocated Rp. 25 trillion to meet basic needs and market operations and logistics.
The sixth is the relief of credit payments. For informal workers, be it online motorcycle taxis, taxi drivers, and UMKM (Micro, Small and Medium Businesses), fishermen, with a daily income with credit below Rp 10 billion, the OJK has issued a regulation on this matter and will take effect this April. Filing procedures have been determined without having to come to the bank or leasing company, simply by e-mail or digital communication media such as WA (WhatsApp).
I think that's what I can convey in this good opportunity.
