April 4, 2022
New domestic travel rules unveiled, boosted people exempt from most + Amid reports of diesel shortages Minister Luhut warns of more gas price increases + VAT rises to 11% + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Monday, April 4. In today’s edition, there’s a new set of domestic travel rules that everyone needs to know about; and the government is warning that gas prices are going to continue to rise; while the country’s sales tax (VAT) was raised over the weekend from 10% to 11%. 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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Weather & Tides
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Daily Covid Update
National Figures
Local Figures
Note: While the 7-day average for new cases has been hovering between 45-55 for the last week, the long-term trend is still downward, with the first three days of April seeing 3x fewer cases than the same period last month.
The Big News
"Domestic Travel Provisions Effective 2nd April" from Indonesia Expat: The COVID-19 Task Force has issued circular letter number 16 of 2022 concerning the provisions for domestic travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions were issued on 2nd April 2022 until further notice and have been signed by the Head of the Task Force for handling COVID-19, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, S.Sos., M.M. Everyone who travels in private or public vehicles is responsible for their respective health and is subject to the applicable terms and conditions. This includes being required to use the PeduliLindungi application as a condition for traveling domestically. NOTE: Click the headline to see the updated requirements.
"After Pertamax, Pertalite and 3 Kilogram LPG Prices Are Signaled To Rise" from Suara Bali (Indonesian): After the price of Pertamax increased, now the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has signaled an increase in the price of Pertalite to 3 kilograms of LPG gas . The government is said to be doing careful calculations and conducting socialization regarding the planned increase. However, it is not clear how the plan will proceed. “Overall there will be (increase) in Pertamax, Pertalite, if Premium has not. Also gas which is 3 kg (will rise). So gradually, April 1, later in July, September, the government will do it gradually," said Luhut Binsar.
Context: Luhut also pointed out that Indonesia was among the slowest of countries to raise fuel prices. His warning comes amid worries of truck drivers needing to wait in long lines for fuel- a situation that the CEO of Pertamina said was not imminent. However, the state oil giant has already stopped selling diesel to trucks carrying coal, and there are constant reports of long queues and shortages of subsidized diesel coming in from across the country which threaten to disrupt domestic supply chains.
"11% Value Added Tax to help reduce economic gap: KSP" from Antara: The increase in Value Added Tax by 1 percent to 11 percent from April 1, 2022, is aimed at redistributing wealth to benefit the poor and reducing the economic gap, the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) said. The government has officially raised the Value Added Tax from 10% to 11%, in accordance with Law No. 7 of 2021 on Taxation Regulation Harmonization (HPP). As per Law No. 7 of 2021, the Value Added Tax tariff will be increased to 12% by January 1, 2025, at the latest. The Value Added Tax will not be imposed on certain goods and services such as basic needs, social services, education services, financial services, and medical services.
Context: Amid rising prices (see story in “Economy & Infrastructure” section below), the Finance Ministry said that the increased VAT would have a “minimal” impact on inflation.
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Other Headlines
"A Ship of Fools at Komodo National Park" from The Bali Times: Social media and Indonesian media are awash with reports of a video clip of a tourist boat operating near Pulau Kalong at The Komodo National Perk carelessly launching fireworks in one of Indonesia’s highest-profile conservation areas. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, 31 March 2022... Less than one hour after the video was uploaded to the social network, enforcement officials commenced a search for the ship and its crew. The police manage to intercept the ship, forcing it to immediately return to Labuan Bajo, eliminating two stops in their original planned itinerary. Head of the management team for the Komodo National Park, Gatot Kuncoro Edy, confirmed that his office would summon the Captain of the Dirga Kabila and the guide leading the group renting the boat.
"Bali Provincial Government Targets Suwung TPA in Denpasar to Close in September 2022" from Bali Canal (Indonesian): An ambitious plan related to waste management was revealed by the Governor of Bali Wayan, He said, all waste final disposal sites (TPA) throughout Bali will soon be closed. Instead, the Provincial Governmentwill build a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Waste Processing Site (TPS 3R) and an Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST). "This is especially so in Denpasar, where the waste is the most problematic. One day more than 800 tons. Piles up in the Suwung TPA which also becomes the regional TPA," said Koster.
Vaccination Update
Nation: "159.95 million Indonesians fully vaccinated against COVID-19" from Antara
Nation: "Ramadan momentum to rev up COVID-19 vaccinations: Minister" from Antara
Nation: "US donates 35.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Indonesia" from Antara
Bangli: "In Bangli, Vaccine Booster Reaches 47.3%" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Buleleng: “Hundreds of Vials of Covid-19 Vaccine Entering Expiration Period" from Bali Post
"After Covid-19, Focus on Handling Rabies Cases" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): When the positive cases of Covid-19 in Jembrana began to swell, there were even zero cases. In fact, cases of rabies bites have increased sharply, in the last three months there have been 39 cases. This number has exceeded half of the cases that occurred in 2021 last year, where in a year there were 66 cases. Responding to the increasing cases of rabies in Jembrana, the Regent of Jembrana I Nengah Tamba has issued a circular which is specifically intended as an effort to prevent rabies in Jembrana. "The number of rabid dog bites in Jembrana is currently high. Since Covid-19 has started to reach zero, we will now focus on dealing with rabies," he said.
Context: Island health officials are also cautioning against a rise in Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, as Karangasem has seen a 300% jump in cases from last year.
"Governor Koster Destroys Thousands Of Liters Of Sugar Wine In Karangasem" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): Thousands of liters of sugar-based wine or sugar wine were destroyed by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster in Karangasem, on Friday. They destroyed the sugar-based wine confiscated by the police and the Satpol PP at the Karangasem Satpol PP Office... Governor Koster said that this firm action was taken as a step by the government to protect traditional Balinese wine made on a home-industrial scale so that it could be maintained and developed properly. Given that so far, especially in Karangasem, traditional wine products have a good taste and are widely known to the public both in Bali and outside Bali. "With this decisive action, we want our ancestral heritage to be maintained and developed to improve the economic welfare of our traditional arak artisans," he said.
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Health Services
"[In] Densel, Police Strictly Supervise Sanur Beach" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian): Special health patrols on the coast or along the shoreline in the Densel area. Densel Police Chief Commissioner I Gede Sudyatmaja said, Sunrise Beach and Sanur Beach were the most visited by Denpasar people. "In addition to tourist attractions, on Sanur Beach there is also a ship port that serves crossings to Nusa Penida Island or Nusa Lembongan. And the beach is always crowded even in a pandemic situation," he said... According to Sudyatmaja, these activities are routinely carried out to improve discipline and public awareness in the implementation of health care programs. "I always convey to the ranks of personnel to continue to go out in the field and never get bored to convey the discipline of prokes to the community in a humanistic manner," he said.
More...
Province: "Tourism in Bali Recovers, Kadispar Reminds Processors about Prokes" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"South Ring Road Project Swallows IDR 2.7 Trillion Budget" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Southern Ring Road (JLS) project in Badung Regency is estimated to cost up to Rp 2.7 trillion for the project. This project is proposed to be a National Strategic Project (PSN) so that the financing can be borne by the central government. According to Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR), IB Surya Suamba, the proposed change of the JLS project into a national strategic project was submitted to the central government through the Ministry of National Planning Agency (Bappenas). If this proposal is approved, then all project financing will be borne by the central government. "We just proposed. Later, if approved, all activities including financing will be borne by the central government."
More...
Nation: "BPS pegs March inflation at 0.66%" from Antara
Nation: "Strong manufacturing PMI indicative of continued recovery: Ministry" from Antara
Nation: "Gov't to disburse Rp300,000 in cooking oil cash assistance" from Antara
Province: "BI Bali: April inflation stemmed from rising food items" from Antara (Indonesian)
Province: "PLN Bali: PLN electricity sales increase in the first quarter of 2022" from Antara (Indonesian)
Province: "18,569 foreign tourists come to Bali throughout March, per day now reaching 4 digits" from iNews Bali (Indonesian)
Karangasem: "Bulk Cooking Oil Price in Karangasem is More Expensive than Standard, Reaching 20,000 Per Liter" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
Education
"Bali Starts 100% PTM, A Number of Schools in Badung Stay Online" from iNews Bali (Indonesian): The Bali Provincial Government (Pemprov) has again allowed 100 percent face-to-face learning ( PTM ) from April 1, 2022. However, most schools in Badung Regency have chosen to continue to hold online learning. "Schools, whether teachers, education staff, students, anyone at school, please continue to comply with the health protocols," said the secretary of the Bali Covid-19 Task Force, I Made Rentin. Rentin said that during the PTM trial a while ago, there were several schools that did not seem to comply with the prokes, namely opening a canteen. Rentin said the school was not disciplined in implementing the work program.
More...
Nation: "Education Report Card allowing easier mapping of state of education" from Antara
Province: “School Task Force Asked to Proactively Supervise Prokes, Violators Subject to Sanctions" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Of Interest
"RIP: Chef John Taylor Dies in Bali, Age 69" from Bali Discovery
"2 Seniors from Australia Are Stranded on Teor Island After the Yacht Engine Dies" from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian)
"British Citizen's Body Fund in Landfill" from Bali Post (Indonesian)
"Bali Immigration deports French citizen in possession of methamphetamine and firearms" from Antara (Indonesian)
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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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