Jokowi's Prediction About Eid Al-Fitr Homecoming 2022: 48 Million People Will Return To Their Villages, 14 Million Are From Jabodetabek

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has announced the joint leave of Eid Al-Fitr 1443 Hijri will fall on April 29 and May 4-6. He predicts that there are 85 million travelers who will return to their hometowns to stay in touch with their families.

Through a video caption, Jokowi said the number of homecomers who will return to their hometowns this year has reached 85 million. Of this number, 14 million of them are from the Greater Jakarta area.

"I also need to convey that the number of homecomers this year is estimated at 85 million people. Homecomers from Jabodetabek are estimated to be 14 million," Jokowi said in a video description posted on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube, Wednesday, April 6.

Furthermore, he predicts that almost half of the travelers will be on their own. "47 percent will use private vehicles," said Jokowi.

With this condition, Jokowi ensures that his staff will work optimally so that people who return to their hometowns can travel comfortably.

Meanwhile, on different occasions, Jokowi has ordered his staff to prepare arrangements for the homecoming flow. All aspects of support, he continued, must be done carefully.

"We have to start counting correctly. This could be if the ones I caught below, all of them want to go home. So the preparations must also be extra," Jokowi said when opening the Plenary Cabinet Session which was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube on Wednesday, April 6.

Jokowi asked for various scenarios to be prepared immediately. Mainly to minimize the occurrence of congestion and the accumulation of homecoming flow.

"Be careful this homecoming flow can be beyond our expectations. Therefore, all the National Police Chiefs are assisted by the TNI, the Minister of Transportation has really prepared this," said the former Governor of DKI Jakarta.

"Don't make the mistake of preparing a good homecoming route that can minimize congestion and the buildup of homecoming and backflows later," added Jokowi.

In relation to this order, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Muhadjir Effendy said there were a number of emphases that would be made. Among other things, the implementation of vaccinations, especially the second and third doses or boosters, which must be intensified for people who will return to their hometowns.

This, continued Muhadjir, is needed to increase immunity for residents who travel, so that the potential for transmission of the corona virus can be suppressed.

"Based on the results of field tests, it shows that boosters are indeed a very determining factor in our efforts to reduce the number of cases and death rates in relation to COVID. Why? Because if people have been boosted, the level of immunity is several times higher than what they were. have not followed the booster," he explained.

In addition, Jokowi also reminded his staff that two things must be paid attention to, namely the availability of food and fuel oil (BBM) in welcoming the Eid homecoming this year.

"Earlier, the relevant ministries have reported their readiness and God willing, most of them are ready and there are a few more things that are still being refined or improved to welcome, especially going home in 2022," concluded Muhadjir.