April 14, 2022
Denpasar govt starts clearing trash "flood" near Level 21 mall + Govt ask legislature for more fuel subsidies, says supply will run out in Oct + Cooking oil sellers in Jembrana run out of stock + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Thursday, April 14. In today’s edition: The Denpasar government started cleaning up the massive trash "flood" near Level 21 Mall after local residents complained of more trash piles growing in other areas. Energy Minister Arifin asked the legislature to fund additional production of Pertalite gas, saying that prices would have to rise & current supplies would only last until October. And the cooking oil shortage is getting worse, with bulk sellers in Jembrana running out and unable to say when new shipments would arrive. Scroll down for the full wrap on what has been happening in Bali and Indonesia since you last heard from us.
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The Big News
"Garbage at a number of TPS and depots overflows onto the highway" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Garbage in a number of Temporary Disposal Sites (TPS) in Denpasar City is mounting. Previously, the Monang Maning TPS had closed Jalan Merpati, Tegal Kertha Village, now the garbage is piling up. Tuesday (12/4) garbage overflowed again at Jalan Pulau Seram depot, Dauh Puri Klod Village, Denpasar, closing half the road. The head of Tegal Kertha Village Headquarters, Putu Trisna Jaya, said that the condition of the Temporary Disposal Sites (TPS) in his area that had piled up had now begun to be transported. "We are monitoring that the garbage that had previously piled up has begun to be transported by Denpasar City DLHK officers by deploying heavy equipment. Hopefully all the garbage in the TPS on Jalan Merpati Monang-Maning can be transported so that it doesn't spill over to the road," said Trisna Jaya.
Context: Denpasar's Regional Secretary, IB Alit Wiradana, said that trash collection problems were due to damaged equipment at a larger TPS in Suwung, and that in light of the upcoming G20 meetings, the city would increase its efforts to clean up the local TPSs and get the Suwung facility back up and running ASAP. This breakdown began just days after Gov. Koster announced that all TPS sites in the province would be replaced with recycling & larger integrated waste processing facilities by the end of the year.
"Additional quota suggested for subsidized fuels: ESDM Minister" from Antara: The government has suggested to the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) to increase the quota for subsidized 90-octane Pertalite fuel and diesel fuel as a precautionary measure against the rising global crude oil prices. "The global political situation has caused oil prices to rise. The average Indonesian Crude Oil Price (ICP) in March 2022 had reached US$98.4 per barrel," Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Arifin Tasrif noted. Tasrif noted that the figure surges far above the state budget assumption of the ICP, which was only US$63 per barrel.
Context: Later, Minister Arifin clarified that the government expects that currently-budgeted fuel stocks will run out by October. During the session, he also signaled that the government would increase the price of Pertalite gas, but did not provide details on the rate or when that might happen. Previous statements by government officials have said that this would happen by between July and September, but others have implied that it could come sooner. Earlier this week, Arifin asked businesses to free up supplies of Pertalite by buying the non-subsidized Pertamax fuel. Meanwhile, here in Bali, dozens of students gathered in front of Gov. Koster’s office to protest the increase price & short supply of fuel.
"It's getting worse, it's the turn of empty bulk cooking oil in Jembrana" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): It is known, since the price of packaged cooking oil rose drastically, people have switched to using bulk cooking oil. So that a number of bulk cooking oil agents were flooded with demand. However, since the last few days, bulk cooking oil has started to run out at agents. The queues of buyers, which are usually crowded, are no longer in some agents. One of them is a bulk cooking oil agent located at the State Public Market, Jalan Ngurah Rai, Kota Negara, Jembrana, Bali. Bulk cooking oil has been empty since the last three days or last Friday. Until yesterday, there has been no shipment of bulk cooking oil from the distributor. "Don't know when the stock will come again," said an employee of the bulk cooking oil agency.
Context: The central government’s program to distribute Rp. 300,000 in cash assistance to people and small businesses to help them buy cooking oil has kicked off this week. In Klungkung alone, some 8,400 families will receive their payments starting today.
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Other Headlines
"Two Russian Foreigners Living Homeless in Bali Arrested by Immigration" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): Two foreign nationals (foreigners) from Russia live vagrant in Bali. Both admitted they ran out of money. They are mother and child, namely AK (61) and IK (34). Both were found bummed in Nusa Penida. "The money has run out. They live on the mercy of local residents," said Head of the Bali Law and Human Rights Office, Jamaruli Manihuruk, Wednesday (13/4/2022). He explained that AK and IK had passed the deadline for their residence permits and could not renew because they had run out of living expenses. They are visitor visa holders. Initially they came to Bali for a vacation and lived in the Amed area, Karangasem Regency. After their living expenses were exhausted, the two of them moved around until they were finally secured in Nusa Penida.
Vaccination Update
"Merah Putih Vaccine phase 3 trial conducted alongside booster trial" from Antara: The third phase of Merah Putih Vaccine's clinical trial is conducted in parallel with the booster trial, Merah Putih Vaccine Researcher Head at Airlangga University, Surabaya, East Java, Abdul Rantam stated. Under normal circumstances, the booster vaccine trial is conducted separately from the third phase of the clinical trial, he noted. However, with the permit from the Indonesian Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM) concerning the emergency situation, the booster trail can be conducted in parallel with the third phase. If the entire second and third phase of the clinical trial proceeds well, the BPOM targets the Merah Putih Vaccine to obtain Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in August 2022 and be ready for the public.
More...
Nation: "Booster vaccines distributed at Eid exodus departure cities: Minister" from Antara
Badung: "Hundreds of Residents in Sembung Village Vaccinated" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "Netted Control, Dozens of Cafe Girls Immediate Vaccination" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
Nation: "Bali Still Unchanged, National Covid-19 Green Zone Increases" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Nation: "TNI readies precautionary measures against likely COVID-19 spike" from Antara
Denpasar: "The Denpasar Judiciary Team rules 22 prokes violators" from Antara (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Not only subsidized fuel, the government will also raise electricity rates this year" from Merdeka (Indonesian): Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif has signaled that he will increase electricity rates this year. This was raised in a working meeting with Commission VII DPR RI at the Parliament Complex, Senayan Jakarta , Wednesday (4/11). "In the short term, the plan is to implement a tariff adjustment for 2022," said Minister Arifin. "Adjustments to reduce the pressure on the state budget in the electricity sector, in the long term, compensation savings can be made from Rp. 7 to Rp. 16 trillion," he explained. Another effort to reduce the burden on the state budget in the electricity sector, the government will optimize power plants with domestic source fuel from PLTU and PLT EBT. Then, accelerate the construction of 450 MW Rooftop PLTS, as well as the construction of EBT plants from the APBN.
Context: Late last month, Persero, the state-owned electricity company, said that it would provide a 30% discount on electricity for owners of electric vehicles who charge their cars at home.
More...
Nation: "Finance Minister forecasts 4.5--5.2% growth for first quarter" from Antara
Nation: "Ukraine crisis hits Indonesian cement, fertilizer industries" from The Jakarta Post
Nation: "Education Ministry to recruit 758,018 contract-based teachers in 2022" from Antara
Province: "BI: Consumer confidence in Bali's economy is rising" from Antara (Indonesian)
Province: "More Int’l Airlines Heading for Bali" from Bali Discovery
NTB: "NTB Exports Drop 39.02% in February 2022" from Bali Bisnis (Indonesian)
Tourism Update
"Improving Service Quality, Nusa Dua Beach Merchant Association Business Area Is Revamped" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): In an effort to welcome back foreign tourist visits, the Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) through SBU The Nusa Dua, has organized the business area of the Beach Traders Association in The Nusa Dua Area. Even the arrangement of the surfing equipment rental business area (surf) of the Sekar Sari Association, which is located on the beach area of Nusa Dharma Island, The Nusa Dua, has been completed... According to The Nusa Dua Managing Director I Gusti Ngurah Ardita, the arrangement is in the form of preparing an 18 m2 kiosk building, which functions as a reservation counter, a place to rent surfing equipment, and a place to store tourist goods. Ardita said that the arrangement of this business area was as support from ITDC for the development of community based tourism, through the Nusa Dua Beach Merchants Association, which so far has provided added value to the Nusa Dua area, through the provision of various tourism-related services.
Denpasar: "Bali [to Host] Beach Volleyball Championship" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Of Interest
"Bali school principal demoted after viral video revealed disgraceful punishment of student" from Coconuts
"Motorbike brakes fail, husband and wife in Gianyar Bali plunge into the river" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
"Rabies Vaccination Only Targets Red Zone Villages" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Bali Police reveals the circulation of 39 kg of drugs targeting foreign tourists" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Alfamart presents the first 'Drive Thru' in Bali" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Three-horse race takes shape for 2024 presidential election" from The Jakarta Post
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How You Can Help Bali
Due to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali, tens of thousands of families have found themselves with a greatly reduced income—if any. If you’d like to support organizations working to help those in need, you can see a list of some here.
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