June 1, 2021
Visits have tripled since Work From Bali began says tourism minister + Citizens from Pakistan, Philippines, India must do 14-day quarantine, Malaysia possibly next + Garuda facing bankruptcy + more
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Weather & Waves
Today’s Weather for Southern Bali
Today’s Tides
Meteorology, Climatology & Geophysics Council (Link)
Tide table from Tide-forecast.com.
Local Covid Numbers
*Note: 44 new cases were recorded on Monday, bringing the 7-day average down to 49, the lowest since August 19 (47). 2 deaths were recorded, 1 in Badung and the other in Denpasar, bringing the total to 1,502. In May, there was an almost 30% difference between the average number of new cases recorded on weekdays (93) compared to weekends and around holidays (69). In April the difference was less pronounced (just under 7%), with an average of 164 new cases recorded on weekdays, and 153 on weekends and around holidays. In March the difference was much higher (almost 40%), with an average of 200 cases reported on weekdays, and 134 on weekends and around holidays.
Click here to see the national numbers infographic and a Regency-by-Regency breakdown of yesterday’s local numbers. And in case you missed it, check out Sunday’s update for a summary of last week’s overall totals, with perspective on how they stack up against previous weeks + detailed breakdowns of the virus’ spread on a Regency-by-Regency level.
The Big News
"Tourism Minister: Tourist Visits Have Tripled Since Work From Bali Program Began" from Kompas: Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno said there has been an increase in tourist visits to Bali since the Work from Bali (WFB) program was initiated by his ministry last January. "We have already seen an increase in the effectiveness of our work to generate tourism in Bali, from the previous 2,000-2,500 visits to 7,000-7,500 visits, so there is a threefold increase." The Minister also said the number of visits to Bali in April reached 4,000-4,500 people per day.
Context: It has also been reported that Sandiaga believes the Work From Bali initiative can boost the province’s economic activity up to 70%. Central Statistics Agency data on the number of domestic arrivals in Bali for 2021 isn’t available yet, but data shows that room occupancy across all starred hotels in Bali was 11.15% in January, 8.99% in February, and 10.24% in March.
"Citizens from India, Pakistan, Philippines, Mandatory 14-Day Quarantine" from CNN Indonesia (Indonesian): Head of the Health Quarantine Sub-Directorate General of Disease Prevention and Control (P2P) of the Ministry of Health, Benget Saragih, said, "The implementation of the 5 x 24-hour quarantine protocol with two re-examinations of PCR swabs is still valid, except for arrivals from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines who undergo a 14 x 24-hour quarantine with two PCR swabs." the three countries are known to have experienced an increase in Covid-19 cases in the past month. Separately, the Spokesperson for the Covid-19 Handling Task Force Wiku Adisasmito also said the Indonesian government plans to extend the quarantine period for Malaysian citizens who enter Indonesia, from 5 days to 14 days.
Context: It has been reported elsewhere that Wiku Adisasmito has said the 14-day quarantine for Malaysian citizens has yet to be decided officially, and that the government was working to tighten its border policies on foreigners arriving from several countries with worsening Covid-19 spread. Indonesia reported 5,662 new Covid-19 cases on Monday and 174 deaths, increasing the number of active cases to 102,006, the highest level in almost six weeks.
"‘Our Flag Carrier Must Be Saved’: Garuda Indonesia Faces Real Threat of Bankruptcy" from Coconuts Jakarta: Indonesia may soon be without a flag carrier, as Garuda Indonesia’s woes continue to deepen amid the pandemic and with bankruptcy a very real possibility for the airline. On Friday, the airline announced that it will be offering its employees early severance packages in July with the company’s financials in dire straits. The measure was as good an indication as any that Garuda is struggling to survive, with the company saying that it’s exploring several options to keep the company afloat, including debt restructuring, a government bailout, and liquidation. While Garuda booked an operational profit of US$19 million in 2019, the airline is still struggling under the weight of its mountain of debt. Garuda currently has a debt of IDR70 trillion (US$4.9 billion). CEO Irfan Setiawan said the airline’s debt is growing by IDR1 trillion (US$70 million) per month.
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Other Headlines
"Covid-19 Data Gaps Persist Over Year into Outbreak" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): Over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is still struggling to present real-time, consistent data on cases and fatalities related to the disease. Data discrepancies can be seen in case and fatality numbers, between those provided by cities and regencies and those by the provincial administrations and the central government, with the gaps reaching to the thousands. Central Java, for instance, has reported on its website more than 202,600 total confirmed cases so far with more than 12,800 deaths. But the central government had only reported over 9,100 deaths in the province as of Sunday, representing a gap of 3,600.
Vaccination Update
"Vaccination Targets 80% of Residents, Badung Optimistic About July Tourism Opening" from Radar Bali (Indonesian): The Badung Regency Government continues to aggressively carry out its vaccination program. Almost every day the first or second dose of vaccination is held. Deputy Regent of Badung, I Ketut Suiasa, said, “The enthusiasm of the people of South Kuta to be vaccinated is very high, and we really appreciate this, it can be seen from the presence of many people to be vaccinated. Kuta and South Kuta areas as tourism buffers are a priority for vaccines and we are targeting 80% of the people in Badung to be vaccinated this July." He said, if Badung had been released from the pandemic, it would certainly be able to live a normal life again according to the promise of the central government and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy that as of July, tourist objects in Badung would be opened soon.
More...
Nation: "SOE Minister Confirms Receipt of Eight Million Sinovac Vaccine Doses" from Antara
Health Protocols (Prokes) & Patrols
Denpasar: "Dozens of Prokes Violators Again Netted in Denpasar" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
Jembrana: "KRYD Ends, Gilimanuk Port Maintains Tightening" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Economy & Infrastructure
"Minister of Finance: Recovery Trend Creates 2.61 Million New Jobs" from Antara Bali(Indonesian): Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that during the period of the economic recovery trend from the Covid-19 pandemic, 2.61 million new jobs were created. Sri Mulyani said the unemployment rate had increased in August 2020 to a level of 7.07% but in February 2021 it had fallen to a level of 6.26%. “This absorption os faster than the addition of the number of new job seekers, which increased by 1.59 people in the same period.” Sri Mulyani has the creation of new jobs and a decrease in the unemployment rate were several indicators of social welfare that had begun to show improvement. Public welfare indicators that are starting to show improvement can also be seen from the achievements of Indonesia’s Human Development Index, which increased by 0.02 points to 71.94 from 71.92 in 2019. The Gini ratio also increased in 2020 to 0.385 and the welfare of farmers and fishers recorded movements in the same pattern.
More...
Nation: "Jokowi Unveils Ambition to Build World’s Largest Green Industrial Area in Kalimantan" from The Jakarta Globe
Nation: "TikTok Launches Saturday Local Shopping to Help MSMEs in Indonesia" from Antara Bali (Indonesian)
Badung: "Begging Mushrooming Again in Kuta Area" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
Denpasar: "Targeted for Completion December 2021, Kumbasari Market Traders Relocated" from Bali Express (Indonesian)
Klungkung: "Damaged, Residents of Bukit Tengah Klungkung Repair Road Independently" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
Tabanan: "Rural Farmers Absorb Grain at Expensive Prices. Brokers Are Furious" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Mandiri Overtakes BRI to Become Country's Largest Bank" from The Jakarta Post (Metered Paywall): State-owned publicly listed Bank Mandiri has become the largest lender in Indonesia after booking double-digit asset growth, overtaking state-owned publicly listed Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI). Assets of Bank Mandiri totaled Rp1.58 quadrillion (US$110.56 billion) in March, up 20% from a year earlier, which is traded on the local bourse under the ticker symbol BMRI. “This significant asset growth is supported mainly by the successful merger of Bank Mandiri Syariah and two sharia bank subsidiaries of other state-owned banks to form Bank Syariah Indonesia and become a subsidiary of Bank Mandiri,” Bank Mandiri president director Darmawan Junaid said.
"Government Will Utilize Thermal Energy of North Bali Sea" from Antara Bali (Indonesian): National Energy Council member Herman Darnel Ibrahim said, “Marine thermal energy technology has the potential to be developed in the waters north of Bali.” Ocean thermal energy is part of the new renewable energy sourced from differences in seawater temperatures that are easily found in tropical marine waters. Apart from generating electricity, marine thermal energy also produces several products, namely lithium, hydrogen, mineral water, aquaculture development, and potable water. The potential for converting marine thermal energy in Indonesian waters is projected to be able to produce around 240,000 megawatts.
"Tempe Size Decreased, Producers in Klungkung and Buleleng Complain Soybean Prices Never Decrease" from Tribun Bali (Indonesian): Tofu and tempeh producers are complaining about the continuing increase in the price of soybeans. Producers were forced to increase the price of tofu and reduce the size of tempe in order to continue to produce. Ariawan, a producer in Banjar Gerombong, Sulang Village, Klungkung, said at the beginning of 2021 the price of soybeans was Rp.7,000 per kilogram, and this increased to Rp.8,000 by February. However, from February to March, the price rose again to Rp.9,000 per kilogram. Then from March to April, the price jumped to Rp.10,000 per kilogram. "The current situation is very difficult. We hope consumers can understand our condition," he said. Tempe and tofu producers in Buleleng are experiencing a similar condition. Ramdhani, who has been in the tempe business for years, said tempeh and tofu must use soybeans imported from America because the quality is much better. He hopes the government will overcome this problem, so that the price of imported soybeans can return to normal. "If we use local soybeans, it is dirtier. I’m traumatized, because there are many stones and soil. So it takes time to clean. If we use imported soybeans, it is cleaner and has better quality."
"Birth of Pancasila Day on June 1 and Its Journey to be Declared as National Holiday" from Kompas: The term which refers to the five pillars on which the Republic of Indonesia was founded was first put forward on June 1, 1945, by Soekarno when giving a speech at a series of sessions of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Efforts for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI). When giving a speech at the BPUPKI session on June 1, 1945, Bung Karno put forward five concepts to serve as the basis of the Indonesian state. The five concepts include were nationalism; internationalism, or humanism; consent, or democracy; social prosperity; and belief in one God. After explaining the five fundamentals of the state, Bung Karno then discussed the proper name for the basis of the state. On the guidance of a linguist, Bung Karno then stated that the five policies of the country are summarized under the name Panca Sila.
Context: Pancasila comprises two Old Javanese words originally derived from Sanskrit: "pañca" ("five") and "sīla" ("principles").
Of Interest
"Experts Say Green Light Beaming into Mount Merapi in Viral Photo Was From a Meteor" from Coconuts Jakarta
"Origin of Bali Ngaben Ceremony, Its Purpose, and Types" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Types of Balinese Dance, Not Just Pendet and Kecak, Turns Out There is a Huge Number" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
"Bali Cop Arrested for Trafficking Drugs" from Antara
"Angler Who Fell from Water Blow Cliff in Nusa Penida Yet to be Found" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Driving Loud Motorbikes, Three Youths Attack Residents for Reprimanding Them" from Radar Bali (Indonesian)
"Terminal Boys, Skateboard Lovers Community in Gianyar" from Nusa Bali (Indonesian)
"Denpasar Police Officer Dismissed Following Alleged Nightclub Assault" from Coconuts Bali
"Parking Attendant Attacked with Baseball Bat, Perpetrator Arrested" from Bali Puspa News (Indonesian)
"Whale Stranded on Mertasari Beach, Denpasar, Foreign Object in Stomach" from Suara Bali (Indonesian)
How You Can Help
In response to the collapse of the tourism sector in Bali and the resulting economic crisis, dozens of individuals and organizations have sprung into action, raising funds and distributing badly needed food and everyday essentials to the innumerable families who have suddenly found themselves without any source of income. We've been making an effort to document and raise awareness of these efforts. We will add information on projects in this space as we are able to confirm them. If you'd like to see a list of the efforts that we've featured so far and contribute to them with either time or money, visit our complete list here. You can also see a list of projects that have registered themselves at BaliSolidarity.org. If you know of an effort and would like to have them listed, please send their information to TheBaliBeat@outlanders.global.
About This Newsletter
This newsletter is a product of Migration Media, the hub for stories from and about the international migrant experience.
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