MAKASSAR - The Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) protested the blockage of grants from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf). These funds have not been disbursed for hotels and restaurants in Makassar City, South Sulawesi.
Acting Mayor of Makassar Rudy Djamaluddin apologized for the delay in disbursing the grant budget for hotels and restaurants in Makassar.
Based on the Decree of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, KM / 694 / PL.07.02 / MK / 2020 regarding the Tourism Grant Fund for the recovery of the National Economy, Makassar received a grant of IDR 48.8 billion. Hotel and restaurant entrepreneurs get 70 percent of the fund.
However, the grant funds were later withdrawn by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, due to the slow pace of the Makassar City government in disbursing the grant funds. Even though the grant funds should be disbursed in 2020.
"However, we know very well, on the one hand in the execution of this grant budget there are mechanisms, I have said, I apologize as the Makassar city government because of the delays in the administrative process carried out by the related agencies so that budget disbursement cannot we will execute until the end of the 2020 fiscal year, "said Acting Mayor Massar Ruddy Djamaluddin to reporters after receiving PHRI representatives, Wednesday, February 3.
This tourism grant is aimed directly at hotel and restaurant entrepreneurs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of this grant is from the Minister of Finance Regulation Number 46 / MK07 / 2020 dated April 30, 2020 concerning Management of Grant Funds from the Central Government to Local Governments in the context of handling the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Makassar City government is trying to send a letter from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to help PHRI to obtain a new policy from the Indonesian Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) as the regulation which has the authority to determine or make technical guidelines regarding how to utilize a grant budget from the center.
"Insyaallah, if Pak Anggiat is pleased, I would like to invite us to come together to support each other. Because after all this grant funds are very important to develop the economy of Makassar City, especially related to hotel and restaurant businesses," said Prof. Rudy.
"What PHRI friends do, of course we appreciate that actually behind the activities of these friends gathering, there is actually a great desire to improve the economy in Makassar City. Of course we have to appreciate it," he continued.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) of South Sulawesi, Anggiat Sinaga appreciated the Acting Mayor of Makassar, Prof. Rudy Djamaluddin.
"Pak Pj's enthusiasm in accepting aspirations from the PHRI. One thing we like from him is that he will soon form a small team to process this, to solve this problem," said Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) South Sulawesi, Anggiat Sinaga.
PHRI is optimistic that they still have the opportunity to get back the grant funds that were withdrawn by the central government for Makassar City.
"We are very optimistic. He is very optimistic that there is still a chance, even though the opportunity is very slim but there is still a chance as long as we try and pray as he hopes. Hopefully in the near future we will take care of it together so that it is clearer. , "he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Commission B for the Economy and Finance of the Makassar City Council, William Laurin, said that it was only natural for PHRI to take action. The council itself also complained about the attitude of the city government which seemed to underestimate the grants provided by the central government for Makassar City.
"The action that was carried out by PHRI because of our disappointment was also very sad when there was a grant that was disbursed by the central government which was not utilized properly, it became a bad presidential condition for Makassar City, because it was the only city that could not be disbursed because it did not take care of administration and so on. "We hope that it will not be repeated. We will continue to support the next steps as long as it refers to the applicable laws," William said.
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