Not Only The Budget Runs Out, BNPB Also Debts IDR 140 Billion For The Financing Of The COVID-19 Isolation Hotel In Jakarta.

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JAKARTA - Tasks executor for Emergency Management of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Dody Ruswandi admitted that the central government no longer has the budget to finance the isolation of COVID-19 patients at Jakarta hotels.

In addition to running out of budget, it turns out that BNPB still has a debt of IDR 140 billion to 36 COVID-19 isolation hotels in Jakarta.

"We still owe the hotel. (The isolation fee) specifically for Jakarta is IDR 200,711,910,000 and we have just paid a bailout of IDR 60 billion", said Dody when confirmed, Wednesday, June 9.

This is what caused the central government to stop the cost of isolating COVID-19 patients at the capital's hotels. Not only that, the cost of lodging accommodation for health workers at the hotel was also stopped.

"If it continues, it's a pity for the hotel because we haven't paid for everything. So far, we have used the BNPB budget, only we ran out yesterday. So we had a meeting, we said to try (financing) until June 15", he said.

However, Dody said that the suspension of financing for the isolation of COVID-19 hotels in the capital was only temporary. Currently, BNPB is still waiting for the budget process again at the Ministry of Finance.

"Perhaps (the cost of isolation) can be borne by the regional government first because we are still proposing (the budget) to the Ministry of Finance. Later, when it has been dropped from the Ministry of Finance, if it is needed (isolation hotels) can be proposed again", he said.

For information, the central government has stopped financing COVID-19 patient isolation facilities at hotels, inns, and guesthouses in Jakarta. Not only that, the cost of lodging for health workers who handle COVID-19 is also similar.

Previously, the cost of lodging and the needs of isolated patients and lodging for health workers were borne by the central government.

Therefore, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has set several new isolation locations. This is stated in the Governor's Decree Number 675 of 2021.

The Governor's Decree, which was signed on May 31, 2021, revoked the Governor's Decree No. 979 of 2020 regarding controlled isolation locations for previous COVID-19 patients.

"With the policy of the National COVID-19 Handling Task Force regarding the termination of financing for hotels, lodging, and guesthouses for confirmed COVID-19 people, both asymptomatic and with mild symptoms, and lodging costs for health workers handling COVID-19 and guaranteeing legal certainty in fulfilling the need for controlled isolation facilities and lodging for health workers, the Governor's Decree Number 979 of 2020 needs to be changed", said Anies.

Currently, there are thousands of isolation beds and lodging for health workers provided by Anies. These locations are in hotels, guesthouses, flats, sports halls, mosques, and schools.