Category: General

Denpasar (ANTARA) – Statistics Indonesia (BPS) has stated that access to air transportation connecting Bali with ASEAN member countries forms the basis for growth of the tourism sector in the province.”Tourists from other countries need to take more effort and bear higher costs. If they come from the ASEAN region, which is closer, it is hoped that this will become a source of Bali’s greater foreign exchange,” Head of BPS Bali Hanif Yahya stated in Denpasar on Saturday. He said that offering greater convenience of air transportation from ASEAN to Bali and vice versa is one of the main requirements for boosting the number of foreign tourists to the island. part from opening access for world travelers to Bali, exports from the island are also absorbed more easily and swiftly by the ASEAN market as an increasing number of direct flights are opened from several countries in Southeast Asia to Bali and vice versa. “The convenience for tourists visiting Bali can be fulfilled, including the flow of exports and imports that can also be carried out more quickly,” he remarked. Data from BPS Bali in February 2023 showed that four of the five countries with the highest number of flights to the island were countries in Southeast Asia. Moreover, direct flights operate from the Philippines and Timor-Leste to Bali. Tourists from ASEAN ranked fourth, with the figure approaching 50 thousand, in February 2023, after the European, Oceania, and Asian regions. Cumulatively, foreign tourist arrivals in Bali in 2022 reached 2.15 million, compared to only 51 people in 2021, following the relaxation of air travel restrictions as the COVID-19 case count was brought under control. Of the 10 leading source countries of foreign tourist arrivals in 2022, tourists from Singapore ranked third with the figure reaching 129 thousand, while Malaysia ranked eighth with 91 thousand people. Meanwhile, based on data from the I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, until April 2023, several international airlines continue to request direct flight access to the island, which currently has 26 international routes operated by 32 airlines. From ASEAN, countries that have served direct flights to Bali include Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Source:Antara News Agency

Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA) – Due to the rise in the prices of basic commodities, the Aceh Besar district administration has distributed staple food packages to 50 poor households in Cot Suruy village, Ingin Jaya sub-district.The staple food packages were disbursed by acting head of Aceh Besar district, Muhammad Iswanto, to eligible recipients during an event held at an Islamic school building here on Friday evening. The aid packages were provided to ease the financial burden on poor households, including widows, during the fasting month of Ramadan and ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr festivities, he said. Iswanto appealed to people to continue to help one another as part of a social solidarity movement in communities. cting head of the Aceh Besar Education and Culture Office, Agus Jumaidi, said that distributing staple food packages to poor households has become a routine program during Ramadan. “Distributing the aid packages is part of our effort to support households in Cot Suruy village, including those headed by women,” he added. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) began disbursing social aid in the form of 10kg of rice for each beneficiary family across Indonesia. “The rice aid will be provided to 21.3 million families for three months,” Bulog’s president director, Budi Waseso, said at the launch of the food aid program in North Jakarta. Under the program, Bulog will disburse a total of 640,590 tons of rice, equivalent to approximately 213,530 tons per month, between March and May this year, Waseso stated. Bulog’s president director stated that the rice distribution would also reach the most remote and underdeveloped regions with the help of appointed transporters such as PT Pos Indonesia, PT JPLB, and PT DNR. Head of the National Food Agency (NFA), Arief Prasetyo Adi, said that Bulog has been entrusted with the task of food aid distribution in 2023 as the agency has proven its capability by successfully implementing earlier government programs. “The assignment of food aid (distribution) is expected to benefit beneficiary families. In addition, the distribution of the aid is also expected to control the impact of inflation to maintain food price stability at the producer and consumer levels,” he added.

Source:Antara News Agency

The reward for the arrest of the elusive New People’s Army (NPA) hitman Roger Fabillar, the primary suspect in three murder cases in northern Negros, was raised from PHP500,000 to PHP900,000 on Thursday night. ‘Several concerned stakeholders and private individuals offered additional cash reward amounting to PHP400,000 to hasten the manhunt against Fabillar and his group. Such amount shall be given to anyone who could provide information that could lead to the arrest and/or neutralization of Fabillar,’ announced the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Sagay City, Negros Occidental province. Also known as ‘Arnel Tapang’, ‘Jhong’ and ‘Nono,’ the suspect, who is about 31 years old, is facing criminal charges for the series of killings in Calatrava town since last year. The victims included village chief Benjamin Javoc of Barangay Lalong as well as Renato Estrebillo and Rodel Nobleza, of Barangay Marcelo, who were all gunned down last August. In February this year, Fabillar was also tagged in the killing of councilman Benito Hubahib of Barangay Cambayobo. The initial cash reward was set at PHP100,000 in August, and was increased to PHP300,000 then PHP500,000 in September. Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, commanding officer of 79IB, had earlier said Fabillar is assigned to carry out special operations for the remnants of the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front. The bounty was raised following an encounter between the troops of 79IB and communist rebels in Sitio Siraje, Barangay San Isidro in the adjacent Toboso town on Thursday. In September last year, soldiers installed ‘wanted’ posters with the photograph and personal information of Fabillar in various barangays of Calatrava and Toboso. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Fabillar may contact the 79IB through hotline numbers (0963)8739989 (Smart) and (0927)3392481 (Globe).

Source: Philippines News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid gladly welcomed the ratification of the Job Creation Law, as he believed it would help broaden job opportunities and reduce the poverty rate.”To eradicate poverty, we need to draw a lot of bigger investments, as they will create vast job opportunities,” Rasjid noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday. Rasjid deemed the ratification of the Job Creation law as crucial in determining the future of the investment climate in Indonesia. “The law presents legal certainty to potential investors that in turn will help to create job opportunities and reduce the poverty rate,” Rasjid remarked. baca-jugaRelated news: Job creation law aims to improve quality of workforce: Ministry By drawing attention to Indonesia’s low rank in the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Index, economist Rosdiana Sijabat stated that the Job Creation Law would be a tool to fix this shortcoming by establishing a favorable climate for foreign investors. “Creating vast job opportunities is paramount for Indonesia’s economic growth, and the law addresses that matter. Moreover, Indonesia is one of the most populated countries in the world,” Sijabat explained. In line with that statement, law expert Nindyo Pramono affirmed that prior to the passing of the law, Indonesia’s EODB ranking had been trailing behind that of several ASEAN countries. He believed that the law would provide benefits in terms of improving Indonesia’s ranking in the index. “The Job Creation Law will accommodate the need for economic growth and investment flows in Indonesia,” Pramono stated.

Source:Antara News Agency

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) – An alert has been raised in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, with the emergence of Tropical Cyclone 98S seeds (weak vortices) in the Arafuru waters.”Kupang city is on alert status because of the heavy rainfall impact triggered by the Tropical Cyclone 98S seeds that appeared in the Arafuru waters,” Kupang acting mayor George Melkianus Hadjoh said here on Saturday. The TC 98S seeds could indirectly trigger moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds in the region, he added. The Kupang city government has issued an early warning to all villages, sub-districts, and community units regarding the growth of TC 98S seeds. ccording to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Kupang, the TC 98S seeds could cause strong winds with speeds of 20 knots or 37 km/h and air pressure of 1,004 millibars. The condition has been predicted to last until April 11, 2023. “These conditions can trigger hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, flash floods, landslides, lightning strikes, and strong winds that cause trees to fall,” Hadjoh said. He further said he expected all heads of villages, sub-districts, and community units to convey the BMKG’s early warnings to all communities in order to anticipate the risk of disasters early. “So that the public does not panic. Together with the communities, we increase alertness and mitigation measures such as cleaning water channels to prevent water inundation,” he added. Residents of Kupang City have been advised to cut down fragile trees before strong wind occurrences as such winds could cause trees to fall on homes or buildings. He said he expected that the city residents would refrain from traveling during heavy rainfall to avoid unfavorable incidents. Rainfall of moderate intensity, accompanied by wind and lightning, was recorded in Kupang City and Kupang District from 2:303:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. BMKG on Saturday advised residents in East Nusa Tenggara to Papua regions to watch out for extreme weather potential due to the increasing intensity of TC 98S seeds around the Timor Sea.

Source:Antara News Agency

At least 14 passengers were injured when a Ceres bus fell on its side while evading a motorcycle along the highway in Barangay Purisima, Manapla town in northern Negros Occidental at about 5 a.m. on Saturday. In a report, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the passengers, who sustained minor wounds, were brought to the Dr. Ramon B. Gustilo Hospital. The bus driver was identified as Albert Baloran Villarias, 48, a resident of Manapla, and the motorcycle rider, as Jembo Deita Pogosa, 37, of Bago City, according to a police report. Initial information showed both the passenger bus and the motorcycle were bound for this capital city when the motorcycle rider hit a bump and veered towards the lane of the bus. The bus driver tried to avoid the motorcycle, leading the bus to fall on its side in a grassy area. ‘The Ceres bus was traveling at a slow speed and no life was lost,’ the MDRRMO said in a Facebook post. Meanwhile, Pogosa abandoned his motorcycle and could not yet be located while Villarias was placed in the custody of the Manapla municipal police station for further investigation.

Source: Philippines News Agency