UGM Master and Doctoral Study Program of Leadership and Policy Innovation (MDKIK) held an online seminar on Saturday (29/8). The discussion raised the theme entitled “Experience of Regional Level in Implementing Covid-19 Handling Policies”. It was held through the Zoom platform and broadcast live on the YouTube channel of MDKIK UGM.
Several representatives from local governments were invited to share their experiences and steps to tackle and deal with the Covid-19 spread. They were Dr. Elly Engelbert Lasut, M.E. (Regent of Talaud Islands), H. Surunudin Dangga, S.T., M.M. (Regent of Konawe Selatan), Reynold Rizal Umbra, M.Epid. (Mimika Regency Covid-19 Task Force Team), and Dr. Mohammad Uswanas, M.Si. (Regent of Fakfak).
Each of these regions revealed that there were many similarities in terms of handling and overcoming Covid-19. It was due to centralized or directives on handling this pandemic from the central government. Therefore, regional governments need to adjust.
However, some of them had taken their initiatives in making related policies. As Uswanas stated, he decided to carry out a lockdown policy first compared to the national policy or big cities in Java on March 26, 2020, while Jakarta was around mid-April 2020.
“This seems like it is against the center’s direction, but the policy is under Law No. 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua Province. Article 59, paragraph 2 of the law explains that it is the duty of a regional ruler, whether governor or regent, to protect the community,” he explained.
Besides, Mimika has also implemented several other policies, such as assisting students migrating outside the region. Talaud Regency also did this. Meanwhile, other areas, although they were not implementing this policy, they also paid attention to the education sector with their respective systems.
The four speakers sum up and reveal the patterns of handling and handling Covid-19 in each region have their characteristics according to their needs. However, their focus is similar. It is still about health, education, and economic fields.
According to Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Darwin, the Head of the UGM MDKIK Study Program, there are many initiatives in various regions, apart from the central government. However, he said that they should not have forgotten the directives from the central government because integration between governments, both central and regional, with other regions is essential to control the rate of this disease.
“Hopefully, other regions can take lessons from this online seminar from the local governments that are present today. We understand that many innovations and policy initiatives can be carried out earlier by local governments, especially in some urgent situations,” Muhadjir concluded.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/19978-berbagi-pengalaman-penanganan-covid-19-di-tingkat-daerah
