NDONESIA TO STOP IMPORT OF SHALLOTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 30 (Antara) - Shallot is one of the important commodities in the country and is much needed for household consumption, which is why scarcity in stocks often trigger price instability. Scarcity is often met with imports.         However, the government is now determined to encourage the development of shallot plantations to meet the domestic needs and to stop importing the commodity.     Currently, the trade minister and the agriculture minister have continued to push farmers to independently plant and cultivate shallots.     According to Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, Indonesia will, in the near future, stop importing red onions, considering the success of its previous experience when it was trying to free itself from depending on foreign agricultural products by halting its carrot imports several years ago.         "In the past, farmers were afraid of cultivating carrot. But now, our domestic carrots are of good quality and are relatively competent, though the prices are a bit higher. Therefore, farmers need not be afraid of planting shallots as we can open market shallots. Indeed, our farmers have simple thoughts. If the price of their plantation commodities is high and they have market, they can diligently plant them," the trade minister said.

MORE LEBARAN TRAVELERS USING SEA TRANSPORT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 29 (Antara) - The Directorate General of Sea Transportation has continued to monitor the sea transportation services for Eid al-Fitr, or Lebaran travelers, during the current post-fasting month festivities.          In order to make the services at the seaports across the country smooth, Director General of Sea Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation Antonius Tonny Budiono review the flow of travelers at a number of seaports in the country, such as in Surabaya (East Java) and Makassar (South Sulawesi).          The directorate general of sea transportation is now concentrating on the return flow of the Lebaran travelers who have celebrated the festivity in their hometowns. This year, according to the directorate general, the number of Eid travelers using the sea transportation increased by about three percent.         "We predict that the number of passengers increased by three percent this year from that in 2016," Budiono, who is also called Tonny, stated on the sidelines of his review of the Makassar Port Terminal in South Sulawesi on Wednesday night.

REGULATIONS, GOOD VARIETIES NEEDED TO BOOST RICE OUTPUT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 29 (Antara) - Rice is the staple food in Indonesia that needs to be regulated and developed in an effort to maintain the country's food resilience.          The Indonesian government should therefore introduce better rice import regulations, increase rice output, and maintain it amid declining rice farm land, researchers said.          Hence, they asked the government to create a regulation that can encourage a healthy competition in importing rice in order to meet the needs of food in Indonesia.          "The government should open up opportunities for other eligible companies to participate in the import of rice and other foodstuffs," Hizkia Respatiadi, researcher on trade and people's welfare of the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS) stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (June 27).       In addition to creating a healthy competition, the government, through the issuance of such an import regulation, can also make the price of rice competitive and beneficial for consumers.          CIPS also wants the government to focus on international trade to meet domestic demand for rice to offset the problem of land availability in the country. "Indonesia needs a policy that ensures food security for the people, by focusing on international trade and allowing the private sector to participate in food trade," Hana Nabila, another researcher on food trade of CIPS, noted.

LEBARAN TRAVELERS URGED TO RETURN BEFORE JUNE 30

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 27 (Antara) - Homecoming Eid al-Fitr, or Lebaran travelers, who have celebrated the post-fasting festivities in their hometowns across the country, are expected to return before Friday, June 30, as trucks will begin plying from that day.          Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi urged travelers to return to Jakarta, or their places, before or on June 29, or three days after the Eid D-Day (H+3) since on June 30, or (H+4), the restriction on the movement of trucks transporting goods or logistics will be lifted.          "The peak of the reverse flow of travelers is predicted to extend across days. The favorite day is on Saturday, (July 1), and Sunday, (July 2), but I urge that they should go back to Jakarta before or on June 29 (Thursday), as on June 30, trucks will start operating again," the Ministry of Transportation quoted the minister as saying on its website http://www.dephub.go.id, on Monday.          The Ministry of Transportation had earlier forecast that the number of travelers during the Lebaran season this year would reach 19 million, or up 5.5 percent, from 18 million visitors in 2016.

MILLIONS EXPECTED TO THRONG JAKARTA RECREATION CENTERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 27 (Antara) - The number of holidaymakers visiting Jakarta recreation centers during the current Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran holidays are expected to reach millions.         Jakarta has numerous recreation sites including three main ones, namely the Jaya Ancol Dream Land in North Jakarta, the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta, and the Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) in East Jakarta.         About 1.3 million Eid holidaymakers are expected to visit the three recreation centers during the Eid or Lebaran holidays. The Jaya Ancol Dream Land targeted 875 thousand visitors, TMII targeted 350 thousand holidaymakers, and Ragunan Zoo targeted 170 thousand visitors.          On Monday, the second day of Lebaran, traffic congestions occurred on roads that led to the recreation centers.          TMII management stated that its target for two week (June 25 to July 9, 2017) of the Lebaran period was realistic. This target is quite realistic, considering that in 2016, the number of tourists who visited TMII during the Lebaran holidays reached 400 thousand people.

PONTIANAK PRESERVES CULTURES WITH CANNON FESTIVAL

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 25 (Antara) -  Amid the spread of  terror threats,  a bang will scare people if it comes from a bomb blast. However, it will amaze them  if it is used  to enliven a festivity.          Thus, the bangs of firecrackers for instance, which decorate the sky with lively colors during a festivity such as during a New Year's Eve and others, will entertain residents.      In local traditions, people use different means to produce bang sounds in enlivening a festivity. Bambo cannon, apart from firecrackers, is the most popular to mention one.  It is used in different parts of the country, even in other countries such as in Malaysia and the Philippines.         In Pontianak, the provincial capital of West Kalimantan, people also use carbide cannon beside bamboo cannon.     West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis said the carbide cannon game played along the Kapuas River during the night of Lebaran (on the Eve of Eid al-Fitr) is the cultural tradition of the Pontianak Malay community.

GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO REVISE BEEF IMPORT POLICY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 24 (Antara) - In its efforts to build the country's food resilience, including in cattle, the government needs to revise its policy on importing beef and develop a domestic breeding program and feedlot businesses.         Hence, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Regional Representative Nono Sampono urged the government to change its trade policy and reduce beef imports.          "The government should advance domestic cattle farming and feedlot endeavors in several regions," Sampono noted while inspecting several abattoirs in Cakung, East Jakarta, on Friday (June 23).          Indonesia has the potential to boost cattle breeding and to realize food resilience in the cattle breeding sector, so it would no longer need to import beef. With its large geographic spaces, the country should not depend on meat imports that could lead to shortage in the market when there are distribution obstacles.          Moreover, beef stocks are still readied based on the volume of market demand, according to slaughter house PD Dharma Jaya. Cattle slaughtered at the PD Dharma Jaya abattoir came from East Nusa Tenggara Province but to meet the domestic market demand, the company also imported beef from Australia.

EXODUS OF EID TRAVELERS IN JAVA BEGINS TO PEAK

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 23 (Antara) - Home coming of Eid al-Fitr, or Lebaran travelers, notably those using Trans-Java Toll Roads in Java began to peak Friday, two days (H-2) before the Lebaran D-Day on Sunday.          Tens of thousands of private cars and other vehicles used by travelers poured into both toll and non-toll roads retarding the traffic flow.          The Jakarta-Cikampek section of the Trans-Java Toll road, for example, takes about eight to nine hours to be covered. On normal days, this section can be covered in two to three hours.          Toll road operators earlier predicted that the Lebaran traveler exodus would peak on Friday (June 23) and on Saturday.          The Jakarta-Cipali (Jakarta-Cikampek-Palimanan) toll road section has relatively been packed with vehicles on Friday. "It took me 12 hours to drive my car from Jakarta to Palimanan. I left Jakarta at 2 a.m on Friday and arrived at Palimantan at 2 p.m. I used to cover this route in five or six hours only," said Amrurrahman, who traveled to Cirebon, West Java, to celebrate the post fasting festivities there.          According to National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, the Eid al-Fitri traveler exodus would peak on Friday (June 23) and Saturday (June 24).

WELCOMING LEBARAN DAY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 22 (Antara) - The Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran Day, which is celebrated next Sunday in Indonesia, is the culmination of the month-long fasting rituals of Muslims, when they offer their prayers and thanks to Almighty.         President Joko Widodo, who over the past few years had celebrated the Lebaran festivities in vrious regions, is expected to perform his Lebaran prayers at Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta this year.         "The president is scheduled to conduct his Eid prayers in Jakarta, probably at the Istiqlal Mosque," State Secretary of the Cabinet Ministers Pramono Anung said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.         Indonesian Muslims are now in the last week of the fasting month, and the Ramadan month will end next Saturday (June 24). This means that Muslims in Indonesia are now ready to welcome the Lebaran Day, a day during which Muslims of the world flock to the mosques, squares, and other open places to perform their Eid prayers and to offer their gratitude to the Almighty.         During the days of the fasting month, Muslims throughout the world undergo a spiritual cleansing by restraining from passion and abstaining from food and drinks from dawn until the sun sets.

EID REVELERS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL DURING DAY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 21 (Antara) - Post-fasting Idul Fitri travelers, who want to cross into Bakauheni port in Sumatra from Java's Merak harbor, are expected to conduct the trip during the day to avoid overcrowding of passengers at the ferry port of Merak.          During the Idul Fitri or Lebaran exodus in previous years, travelers usually preferred to make the journey at night to avoid the scorching sun, overcrowding of passengers, and serious congestions at the port.          "We hope travelers would not conduct the trip and cross into Bakauheni during the night in order to ensure that the flow of Lebaran revelers would run smoothly," Land Transportation Director General Pudji Hartanto Iskandar said, while observing the flow of passengers at Merak Port, on Wednesday.            Merak port in the western tip of Java and Bakauheni harbor in the eastern part Sumatra are two main points for travelers seeking to cross the Sunda Strait on their way to Sumatra from Java or to Java from Sumatra.

MERAK PORT TO SEE PEAK OF PASSENGER FLOW ON FRIDAY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 20 (Antara) - In the face of Idul Fitri Day on Sunday, Merak harbor, one of Indonesia's busiest ferry port, will see the peak of post-fasting Lebaran travelers next Thursday and Friday.          The Merak harbor in the western tip of Java links the island with Bakauheni port in Sumatra. The two harbors will be busy serving Idul Fitri or Lebaran travelers who wish to cross the Sunda Strait to celebrate the festivities in their hometowns.          This year, the Ministry of Transportation has predicted that a total of 19 million people across the country will travel to their hometown to have reunions with friends and family.          Locally called 'pemudik,' Lebaran travelers, who will cross the Sunda Strait to Sumatra, are expected to throng Merak port on Thursday and Friday.          According to Tommy L Kaunang, the general manager of state-owned waterway transportation service PT ASDP, the flow of passengers is expected to start increasing on Tuesday night or H-5 (five days before the D-Day).          Until Tuesday, at 8 a.m. local time, a total of 57,348 passengers had crossed into Bakauheni port of Lampung (eastern tip of Sumatra).

GOVERNMENT READY TO SERVE 19 MILLION LEBARAN TRAVELERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 19 (Antara) - The government is ready to serve some 19 million people across the country who will be traveling this week to their hometowns to celebrate the post-fasting Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran festivities.          Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi stated that the government has accorded priority to the safety and increased services for travelers during this year's Lebaran exodus, when the number of travelers are expected to increase by 5.5 percent from 18 million last year.          The safety, security, and health of homecoming travelers using land, air, and sea transportation must be ensured, so that this year's Lebaran exodus season would be more comfortable.          "Ensuring the safety, security, and increased services is a must. All this must be followed with high discipline (both by officials in charge and travelers)," Minister Sumadi noted while inspecting the readiness of the Makassar Seaport in South Sulawesi on Saturday (June 17)

GOVERNMENT TARGETS TO FREE INDONESIA OF CHILD LABOR BY 2022

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 14 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is making all-out efforts, through a roadmap program, to free the country of child workers, which currently reach over 1.6 million, by 2022.          In order to achieve the target based on the roadmap, the Manpower Ministry has developed synergy with various parties, including regional governments and societal organizations, and launched a campaign to promote the free child worker program.          The program was also launched as part of the commemoration of the National Month Against Child Labor and World Day Against Child Labor on June 12. It involves the business community and society in which all stakeholders need to play a role and actively engage to free children from labor and also provide protection to them to uphold their rights and dignity in order to live, grow, develop, and participate optimally.          "We involve not only the central government but also regional administrations, businesses, and societal organizations," Maruli Hasoloan, the acting director general of Guidance and Supervision on Employment, Occupational Safety, and Health, had stated in Jakarta on Thursday (June 8).

LEBARAN THIS YEAR TO OFFER COMFORTABLE TRIPS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 8 (Antara) - With better infrastructures, the government has promised to do its best to provide smoother, safer, and more comfortable trips during post-fasting Eid ul-Fitr or Lebaran travelers' exodus later this month.           Indonesia will once again see the exodus of the devout when a large number of Eid ul-Fitr revelers travel to be with their families and celebrate the Lebaran festivities in their hometowns. Tens of millions of Lebaran travelers across the country will be home-bound, going by air, land or sea.          National Police (Polri) Chief General Tito Karnavian is optimistic that the post-Ramadan fasting month 'Operation Ramadniya 2017,' launched to support the smoothness of travelers' flow, will be able to overcome problems such as those that occurred during the same exodus in 2016.          "After checking in the field preparations for home-bound trip locally called 'mudik,' we are convinced that the flow of Lebaran travelers this year will be smoother and the services will be better," General Karnavian said in Purwakarta, West Java, on Wednesday (June 7).

GOVERNMENT'S DEVELOPMENT PLAN RUNNING ON RIGHT TRACK

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 5 (Antara) - In a bid to advance the country, the government is laying down its development programs on a Medium-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) and long-term initiative called "Indonesia 2045 Vision."     The development carried out since the government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) came to power in late 2014 is believed to be running on the right track, National Development Planning Minister/Head of the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) Bambang Brodjonegoro had stated in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 30.          The Bappenas minister said most of the programs in the RPJMN are on the right track. He made the statement after a meeting to discuss the implementation of the RPJMN 2015-2019 and to deliberate on the draft of the "Indonesia 2045 Vi

HIGHER GROWTH TARGET SET IN REVISED BUDGET REALISTIC

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 5 (Antara) - Increasing export performance and investment coupled with the optimism demonstrated by the banking sector and corporations will help improve economic activities and boost growth this year.          The improving conditions are believed to be positive factors that will drive up economic growth to exceed the target set at 5.1 percent in the 2017 State Budget (APBN). Thus, it is reasonable for the 2017 Revised State Budget (APBNP) to set a higher growth target.          According to Agus Martowardojo, the governor of Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank), an increase by 0.2 percent in the economic growth, set at 5.1 percent in the APBN, to 5.3 percent in the APBNP is realistic and logical.          Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has said the economic growth this year can exceed the target of 5.1 percent set in the APBN. Positive economic conditions can galvanize the growth in 2017 to reach 5.3 percent.          The finance minister indicated several factors raising optimism that the economy this year will grow better than the previous prediction. She, among others, pointed out better export performance.

TRANS-PAPUA HIGHWAY PROVIDES GREATER CONNECTIVITY TO PAPUA PROVINCES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 3 (Antara) - Construction of the 4,330-kilometer (km) Trans-Papua Highway in Indonesia's easternmost and mineral-rich provinces of Papua and West Papua will offer greater connectivity and is expected to boost economic activities in the the regions.          The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry has completed the construction of about 3,850 km of the targeted 4,330 km Trans-Papua Highway that is expected to be completed by the end of the term of the current government of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in 2019.          "The 570-km Sorong-Manokwari segment in West Papua has relatively been connected. There is only a 12-km section at the border of West Papua and Papua that remains to be constructed. We have sent three teams, and this section must be completed this year," PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono stated in Jakarta recently.          The ongoing construction of the roads was inspected by Jokowi late last month. He rode a Trail motorcycle to inspect some seven kilometers of the section on Wednesday, May 10.          "If you ride the Trail motorcycle, the difficulty is obvious. Try to imagine those who carry out the construction work. We are trying to see it on the field," Jokowi noted after observing the project in Wamena, Papua.

MORE MINISTRIES EXPECTED TO SECURE 'WTP' OPINIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 3 (Antara) - The State Audit Board (BPK) has announced the results of its auditing of the financial reports of ministries/state institutions and has given them the assessment ratings that depict their financial performances.          The BPK has given the institutions the rating of its auditing results in the classifications of Unqualified Opinion (WTP) rating (for perfect reports), Qualified Opinion (WDP) rating for fair reports but with notes, Adverse Opinion for bad reports, and Disclaimer Opinion (TMP) for reports where the auditors decline to provide opinion (auditors are not convinced with the reports).          A number of ministries and state institutions this year have obtained the WTP status for their financial reports of 2016. Ministries/state institutions which secure the WTP rating included the Home Affairs Ministry, Transportation Ministry, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Village, Disadvantaged Region and Transmigration Ministry, and the Attorney General's Office.          The BPK has also provided assessments for the financial reports of provincial and district governments.          Many state ministries and state institutions have found it difficult to secure the WTP status. Even the central government obtained the WTP status only after 12 years this year.

PRICES OF BASIC COMMODITIES RELATIVELY WELL CONTROLLED

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 3 (Antara) - The prices of basic necessities tend to increase in the run up to and during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and its subsequent Eid ul-Fitr or Lebaran festivities.          In its efforts to keep the prices stable, the government, through the state logistics board (Bulog), is launching the Food Price Stabilization Movement across the country.         Hence, the prices of basic commodities, such as rice, bulk cooking oil, onion, garlic, sugar, and chili, are relatively stable. In the context of price fluctuations, the prices of commodities a month to a week before the start of the current fasting month were generally stable as compared to those last year.          According to Economist James Adam of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the prices of basic commodities, such as rice, sugar, cooking oil, fresh and frozen beef, and shallots, are forecast to not increase during Ramadan and Lebaran.          The price stabilization movement, such as the launch of bazaars by Bulog, has had a positive impact on curbing the prices and inflation rate. Bulog is tasked with the on-field implementation of the government's program on price and inflation control.          "In the face of the fasting month and Lebaran, the prices of basic commodities always show an upward trend, yet the government always took anticipatory steps, so that the prices are under control," Adam remarked.