Minister Of Transportation Budi Karya: Management Of Health Work At The Ketapang Ferry Port Is Very Determined For Movement To Java-Bali

JAKARTA - Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said the management of health protocols (prokes) at the Ketapang Ferry Port will determine the movement to Java and Bali. He claimed that for the past three months no passengers had tested positive at the Ketapang Ferry Port.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Transportation Budi during a working visit to Banyuwangi to review the Ketapang Ferry Port and Blimbingsari Airport, Sunday, December 26. This review is to ensure that the tightening of health protocols during the 2021/2022 Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holidays is implemented properly in the field.

"The movement of passengers and goods is relatively flat here. Around 2,500 vehicles and 1,000 passengers per day," he said in a written statement received by VOI, quoted Monday, December 27.

Based on the checks, Budi said that at the Ketapang Ferry Port there are already security posts and vaccination services, as well as antigen tests, to serve prospective passengers who have not received a complete dose of vaccine and to conduct random checks.

"Here the collaboration between the Regent, Forkompinda, the Police, and other related elements has gone well. Handling mobility and progress at the Ketapang Ferry Port can be a good example for other regions," he said.

Furthermore, Budi reminded all parties not to be careless and to remain disciplined in implementing the procedures strictly.

"The maintenance is carried out in a friendly and humane manner, and random checks must be carried out consistently," he said.

On the same occasion, Member of Commission V DPR RI Sumail expressed his appreciation for the institutional synergy at Ketapang Port. He also emphasized that the Ministry of Transportation and PT ASDP should pay attention to the feasibility of ships operating to serve passengers during the Nataru holiday.

Not only visiting the Ketapang Ferry Port, Budi also visited the Christmas and New Year's Command Post at Blimbingsari Airport, and visited the Indonesian Aviation Academy Banyuwangi training aircraft.

Based on temporary data at the Blimbingsari Airport Christmas and New Year Command, passenger movements during the 2021 Christmas and New Year 2022 holidays during 17-25 December 2021 also decreased by 41.6 percent, namely 2,295 passengers compared to last year's 3,394 passengers.

Meanwhile, aircraft movements during 17-25 December 2021 decreased by 68 percent, namely 32 movements this year compared to the previous Nataru period of 100 aircraft movements.

Banyuwangi Regent Ipuk Fiestiandani said that during the Nataru holiday period, his party and all Forkopimda were ready to support the implementation of tightening health protocols at transportation nodes such as airports and ports.

Also attending the review were the Director General of Land Transportation Budi Setyadi, Head of Traffic Police Inspector General (Pol) Firman Santyabudi; Deputy for Emergency Management of BNPB; and the Quality Director of the Ministry of Health.