April 7 2022
Govt confirms that Pertalite gas price will go up as run on supply continues + 3 months of cooking oil aid to come all at once this week + Bali airport extends hours, adds flights + more
Good morning!
Welcome to The Bali Beat for Thursday, April 7. In today’s edition, government officials are confirming that prices for Pertalite fuel & natural gas canisters (LPG) will increase, possibly sooner than the early winter timeframe that had been previously announced. The Rp. 300,000 of cooking oil aid that had been planned to be spread out across three months will instead be given out all at once, and Bali's airport announced that they are extending their hours to accomodate more flights that are being added. 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: Bali’s daily cases continue to track downwards, with both new cases and the number of patients in treatment dropping. Deaths have been in single figures for almost ten days now.
The Big News
"It was empty at several Denpasar gas stations, the price of Pertalite and 3 kg LPG is reported to be going up" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian): Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said the government would further study the increase in commodity prices needed by the public, namely Pertalite and 3 (kg) kilogram LPG. "Now we are still reviewing it. After we study it, we will announce it. But at this time not yet," said Airlangga... Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan gave a signal that there would be another increase in fuel and LPG of 3 kilograms (kg) this year. "Over all, what will happen is Pertamax, Pertalite , Premium not yet, the 3 kilos of gas (there is an increase) in stages. So April 1, later in July, later in September the government will do it gradually (increase)," he explained.
Context: As word spread of possible imminent price increased for LPG, Pertamina officials suggested that people switch to electric induction stoves for cooking.
"Cooking oil aid to be distributed this week: Jokowi" from Antara: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked his rank and file to distribute cooking oil direct cash assistance (BLT) worth Rp300 thousand for three months this week. "Regarding social assistance, both the Family Hope Program (PKH) and others, plus cooking oil BLT to be distributed as soon as possible before Eid al-Fitr or this week would be better," he said. Earlier, the head of state had announced the distribution of BLT cooking oil worth Rp100 thousand per month per beneficiary family (KPM). The BLT is meant for the months of April, May, and June 2022. However, the payment will be made all at once in April and will amount to Rp300,000. The cooking oil BLT is targeted at 23 million people. Specifically, it will be provided to 20.5 million families who are included in the list of recipients of Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) and the Family Hope Program (PKH), as well as 2.5 million Street Vendors (PKL).
"Ngurah Rai Airport Adjusts Operational Hours, And Adds Flight Slots" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian): General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura I I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport - Bali, Herry AY Sikado, said that the opening hours will start at 07.00 WITA until 02.00 WITA. Previously, the operating hours applied were from 07.00 to 20.00 WITA. Through this change in operating hours, his party also ensures that flight slots will also be added. "There will be an increase in the number of flight slots at Bali's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport."
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Other Headlines
"April 29, May 4, 5, 6 declared Eid collective leave days" from Antara: "The government has decided that Eid al-Fitr 1443 H days will be on May 2–3, 2022, and collective leave days for the Eid al-Fitr period will be on April 29, and May 4, 5, 6, 2022," the President said. The President also reminded residents that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet and asked them to remain vigilant against COVID-19 by maintaining discipline in following the health protocols.
Context: The president's declaration came shortly after the Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy has said that the holiday would run from April 29 - May 9. He issued an apology for the error before Widodo made the official announcement. The government is predicting that as many as 85 million people will travel during the Eid holiday, a record, thanks to the last two years' pilgrimages being cancelled due to the pandemic.
"Visa-Free Visits and Visa on Arrival to Indonesia, 6th April" from Indonesia Expat: The scope of the policy of granting visa-free visits (BVKKW) and visit visas on arrival (VoA or VKSKKW) specifically for tourism has been expanded, effective on 6th April 2022, according to The Directorate General of Immigration at the Law and Human Rights Ministry. “With this policy, foreigners from nine ASEAN countries can enter with visa-free visits, while special VoA or special tourist visas can be granted to foreigners from 43 countries,” said Immigration Traffic Director Amran Aris in a written statement. (NOTE: Click the headline to see the complete list of approved VOA countries, and the 19 immigration checkpoints - including 7 airports - where VOAs can now be issued.)
Vaccination Update
"Vaccine shelf life extension based on stability tests: BPOM" from Antara: The extension of the shelf life of COVID-19 vaccines has been carried out based on data from the results of vaccine stability tests by manufacturers holding emergency-use permits... In Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccine products that have received approval for shelf life extension of 12 months include the vaccine made by Bio Farma, a vaccine made by Sinopharm in one-dose prefilled syringe packaging, and the one-dose CoronaVac vial. They further include COVID-19 vaccines made by AstraZeneca, which are being produced by Catalent Anagni SRL, Italy, and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 Vaccine (Comirnaty) produced at Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium, Puurs, Baxter, whose shelf life has been extended by nine months, and the COVID-19 vaccine of Sinopharm, packaged in two doses, with an extended shelf life of 11 months.
Context: This announcement comes after Tuesday's news that 25,000 of Bali's 137,000 doses of vaccine are within 30 days of expiring. Nationwide, Indonesia's authorized vaccine producer, PT Bio Farma, said that 1.53 million doses will hit their expiration date in April.
More...
Nation: "Indonesia's daily COVID-19 positivity rate at 2.41%: official" from Antara
Nation: "25.2 million Indonesians have received booster dose so far" from Antara
Province: "Bali's booster vaccination coverage reaches 54.37%: task force" from Antara
Denpasar: "Padang Sambian Village Participates in Boosting Vaccine Coverage in Denpasar" from Bali Prawara (Indonesian)
NTB: "Lombok Airport Reopens Covid-19 Vaccination Services" from Republika (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Govt cuts fertilizer subsidies, rolls out wage subsidies" from The Jakarta Post: The government announced on Tuesday that it would cut back on its subsidized fertilizer program and launch a wage-subsidy program in preparation for higher inflation and rising commodity prices in the coming weeks. The government has also allocated Rp 8.8 trillion (US$612.83 million) for a wage-subsidy assistance (BSU) scheme to help low-income workers.
More...
Province: "Governor of Bali proposes 10 priority infrastructure programs by 2023" from Antara (Indonesian)
Province: “[Digital] Set-top Box Assistance is Expected to Target All Citizens” from Bali Post (Indonesian)
Province: "Even though the conditions are getting easier, foreign tourist visits to Bali [still haven't] reached normal conditions" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Bangli: "Budget for Continuation of [Lake Batur] Wharf Construction Rp 39 Billion" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Bali DPRD Asks for 3 Bridges Repair Project in East Gatsu Denpasar to be Accelerated Ahead of Homecoming" from Tribune Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Bulk Cooking Oil is Rare in Tabanan, Agents Restrict Purchases" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Baked and arrested: Bali police apprehends a man for baking and selling weed cookies" from Coconuts: Denpasar Police recently arrested a man for making cannabis cookies at a house in the capital of Bali. The suspect has also reportedly served jail time in the past for drug-related offenses. Denpasar Police Chief Comr. Bambang Yugo Pamungkas said that Yogyakarta-born ECB, 24, was arrested on Tukad Musi Street on April 1 at around 7pm. The police later searched his house on Ida Bagus Oka Gang Pasa Tempo Street and found 19 cookies laced with weed. ECB was previously arrested for a similar crime in 2018, and served two years and eight months behind bars after he was found guilty.
Context: This story caused a sensation local media, with nearly every outlet carrying news about the arrest and investigation. Police were informed after local school children experienced "symptoms of dizziness and even symptoms of fever" after eating the cookies, which were made with ingredients sourced in China. It was also discovered that in addition to Denpasar, the suspect had targeted students at schools in Gianyar and Bangli.
Of Interest
"Foreign Minister: 133 Indonesians have been evacuated from Ukraine" from Antara (Indonesian)
"Bali airport holds GSE ramp check ahead of G20 Summit" from Antara
"Police Dismantle Prostitution Under the guise of a Dimly-lit Cafe in Central Lombok" from Repblika (Indonesian)
"Car and Motorcycle Accident in Buleleng Bali, 2 People Died" [Video] from iNews Bali (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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