Disapproving Of DKI Pulling The 'Emergency Brake', Regional Representative Council PAN Party Faction: We Don't Have Money For Health Funds

Deputy Chairperson of the DKI DPRD from the PAN faction, Zita Anjani (Photo: Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the DKI Jakarta Regional Representative Council (DPRD) from the PAN Party faction, Zita Anjani, admitted that she did not agree that Jakarta should apply the emergency brake by implementing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) again.

This is because, according to Zita, DKI Jakarta does not have enough budget to fund health care to ensure the community's needs during the mobility restrictions.

"Over the past year or so, we have sacrificed a lot from an economic perspective. Why? Because DKI Jakarta's only income comes from taxes. If we stop this again, we don't have money to fund our health", Zita told reporters, Thursday, 17 June.

According to Zita, currently, the handling of health and economic recovery must run in a balanced manner. This is because many business sectors have suffered from an economic downturn.

"There have been many attempts to collapse, MSMEs have closed, malls and cafes have just opened. If it's too fast, the brakes will cause our taxes to drop. If our taxes drop, the provincial government cannot finance health", said Zita.

If there must be a place that is closed to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, Zita suggested that the closure be done in a location that has a high potential for the spread of the coronavirus.

"I don't think everything needs to be closed, I think, only in places that are the basis of transmission. Because our PAD achievement alone, if I'm not mistaken, is still at 25 percent. Very low. I'm afraid if we pull the emergency brake, the provincial government will have no money", she explained.

Previously, the Coordinator of the Wisma Atlet Emergency Kemayoran, Major General National Army (TNI) Task Ratmono, considered the DKI Provincial Government to apply the emergency brake, even though the government had increased the capacity of the isolation beds for COVID-19 patients.

"At least this will increase capacity, but this capacity must have limitations. Therefore, it is very important how to break the chain of transmission in the community", he said.

Agreeing, Head of Behavior Change Division of the COVID-19 Handling Task Force Sonny Harry B. Harmadi admitted that volunteers or behavior change ambassadors had tried to educate the public. However, emergency brakes are still needed when a spike in cases occurs.

"We are trying to provide services. However, efforts to brake the speed are very important. Because, no matter how good health services are, it is impossible to serve a drastic surge. Efforts to brake upstream are very important", said Sonny.