Two Jokowi Ministers Praise Central Java's Way Of Dealing With Rising Homecoming Trend For Christmas And New Year

The atmosphere of the transportation control coordination meeting during the Christmas and New Year holidays (Photo via Central Java Provincial Government)

JAKARTA - The Central Java Provincial Government's careful preparation to anticipate the surge of travelers during the Christmas and New Year holidays has received praise from the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, and the Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi. Indeed, what has been done by the area under the command of Ganjar Pranowo?

Central Java is considered by Jokowi's two ministers to be the most prepared because they have made various preparations. This compliment was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture and the Minister of Transportation when chairing a coordination meeting on transportation control over the Christmas and New Year holidays at the Gradhika Bhakti Praja Building, Central Java Provincial Government complex, Thursday, December 16.

"Central Java has extraordinary cohesiveness. We appreciate what has been done rigidly in preparation for Christmas and New Year," said Budi Karya.

According to him, the President has ordered all regional heads to manage Christmas and New Year. Tightening of health protocols must be carried out strictly to anticipate the transmission of Covid-19.

"Central Java is the most attractive to travelers, there are a lot of them. The majority of them use private vehicles and motorbikes. So of course Central Java must manage traffic movements well. And what Central Java has done so far has been very good," he added.

According to a survey conducted, it is predicted that there will be more than 4 million residents who return home to Central Java during the Christmas holidays and the end of this year. Budi Karya asked everyone to work extra in the context of socializing and making preparations so that it could be managed properly.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy said that preparations for this holiday in Central Java had been carried out very neatly. Not only the provincial government, but the support of related institutions such as the police is also very good.

"I see, everything is very neat. As for the Javanese language, Central Java's preparation is really good. It's just a matter of how it will be in the field, hopefully, it can be carried out well too," he said.

Although it has been well prepared, Muhadjir asked the Central Java Provincial Government to continue to prepare other scenarios. This is because there are still a few days in the holiday season, and it is possible that there will be sudden changes or adjustments.

"Meanwhile, the scenario that has been agreed upon has been circulated by the Minister of Home Affairs. That is what we use as a guide. Unless there will be sudden changes and policy adjustments need to be made, they must be prepared. Hopefully, everything will go according to plan," he said.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo, said that Central Java was ready with various scenarios. A number of preparations have been made, including the formation of an integrated coordination post team, crisis center, establishing service and monitoring posts at terminals, airports, stations, ports, toll rest areas, and in border areas, as well as installing CCTV at borders, toll exits, markets, places of worship, travel and more.

"A total of 343 posts we have established. God willing, we are ready with the existing scenarios. We are also happy, because we are given the authority to improve when the situation does not go according to plan," said Ganjar.

Ganjar explained, indeed, according to a survey by the Ministry of Transportation, there were 4.8 million residents who would go home to Central Java. His party has intensively carried out socialization by cooperating with Central Java community associations in various big cities not to go home.

"We are talking to the associations, we ask everyone to celebrate Christmas and New Year in their respective places. But that is only an appeal, to anticipate that we together with our friends from the police, the Transportation Agency, and the Regent/Mayor, of course, have prepared scenarios," he explained.

Preparations for this holiday season must be well prepared. Especially now that it has been announced that the new variant of COVID-19, Omicron, has entered Indonesia.

"It's not that we're scaring us, but we have to be vigilant. So, the health procedures must be strict, including in tourist spots. We agree, we will close tourist attractions that are not ready to manage the procedures. Now we have prepared, next week we will start checking intensely," he concluded.