The PSBB Policy Is Considered A Wise Choice For The Indonesian People

JAKARTA - The General Chairperson of Enabling a Prosperous Community (HMS) Center, Hardjuno Wiwoho, assessed that the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) policy is a wise choice for the Indonesian people. Even though it is quite bitter, this option is taken so that the people do not suffer deeper suffering due to the spread of COVID-19, whose curve has not yet sloped.

Therefore, he hopes that health management and economic recovery efforts must run parallel so that the financing of health and the people's daily economic life is fulfilled.

"The handling of Covid 19 and economic recovery requires strong cooperation and commitment from all parties. Thus, Indonesia can be free from the pandemic and the widening deficit because the economic contraction in the following year does not occur," Hardjuno said in his statement, Wednesday, September 16.

According to Hardjuno, saving people's health and restoring people's economy must be placed on a priority scale. This is because the pandemic has put significant pressure on the national economy.

"Don't look for a stage in COVID-19. Stop all imaging. Let all the positive energy of the nation be directed to fight this COVID-19," he stressed.

Some time ago, market players responded negatively to this policy as indicated by the drop in the JCI. Not only that, the impact of COVID-19 has made the economic breath of most of the business world including SMEs, BUMN and the family economy increasingly difficult.

Even some business sectors have collapsed due to sluggish productivity and low sales. For that, an extreme policy from the government is needed to save the national economy.

"I think this concerns the lifeblood and the veins of the national economy, so the government should not be half-hearted in dealing with the COVID-19 issue. So, health recovery goes hand in hand with efforts to boost economic growth. It cannot be run partially," he explained.

Overall, Hardjuno considered the implementation of the PSBB in DKI Jakarta to be very good. In fact, according to him, this could be a role model for other provinces in Indonesia, especially areas that support the capital city of Jakarta.

However, the implementation of this PSBB must be measured by taking into account economic resilience. Therefore, he hopes that the PSBB re-policy must calculate comprehensively the impact on society.

"In order for it to be effective, I think it requires strong cooperation and commitment from all parties," he said.

As is well known, Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) are mandated by article 49 of Law 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine. Further elaboration of the provisions of the PSBB is regulated in the Minister of Health Regulation Number 9 of 2020 concerning Guidelines for Restricting PSBB in the context of accelerating the handling of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Furthermore, Hardjuno hopes that the provincial government and the central government must strengthen coordination. This is important to avoid confusion of information in the community. Apart from that, the government must be firm in enforcing health protocol rules.

"Government officials must also set an example by implementing health protocols in their daily activities," he advised.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the community is at the forefront of controlling COVID-19. Therefore, the socialization of the war against COVID-19 must be carried out massively into a movement in Indonesia, not just slogans and appeals.

"The Covid 19 pandemic has indeed become a complex problem, not only health but also social and economic issues. Therefore, I think, it needs an extraordinary policy," he concluded.