Testing the Social Values of “Jogo Tonggo”

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Police officers order a driver to turn back from entering the Boyolali tollgate on Wednesday (6/5/2020) in Mojosongo district, Boyolali regency, Central Java. The National Police and the Indonesian Military conducted a joint operation in border areas to uphold the mudik (exodus) ban during Idul Fitri.

The Jogo Tonggo (Guard Your Neighbors) strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Central Java aims to protect locals amid mass mobility of people from other epidemic regions into the province.

All 35 regencies and cities in Central Java are highly prone to the spread of COVID-19, as indicated by the steadily rising number of confirmed cases.

In the beginning, between mid-March and late March, there were six new confirmed cases every day on average. Between early April and mid-April, the figure increased to 13 cases per day on average. On 14 April, there was a spike of 75 confirmed cases.

Also read: Government Can Extend Social Restrictions

From 15 April to late April, the number of daily new confirmed cases surged more sharply. Despite the fluctuation, the daily average rose to 29 cases. The highest spike was on 21 April, with 99 confirmed cases in one day.

The dynamic shows a rising trend. As of late April, at least eight of Central Java’s 35 regencies and cities had more than 20 confirmed cases. These were Banyumas, Purbalingga, Purworejo, Wonosobo and Temanggung, as well as the cities of Magelang, Surakarta and Semarang.

For now, Surakarta and Semarang have the highest numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 65 in Surakarta and 222 in Semarang.

Central Java administration data on 30 April showed that all but four administrative areas in the province had COVID-19 cases. Areas still spared from the disease are Blora, Jepara, Pekalongan and Brebes regencies.

Nevertheless, people must remain on alert as patients under surveillance (PDP) are found in all areas, even in the four areas without confirmed cases. PDP is a status given to people showing COVID-19-like symptoms, such as dry cough, fever and shortness of breath.

It is entirely possible that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Central Java will increase this month. In late April, 827 PDPs were under treatment at hospitals across Central Java.

KOMPAS/HARIS FIRDAUS

A security officer directs a bus transporting mudik (exodus) travelers to a quarantine facility during a simulation on Monday (6/4/2020) at Tirtonadi Terminal in Solo, Central Java. The simulation was held to prepare for homecoming residents, who will be quarantined on arrival to the city under the local administration’s Covid-19 policy.

Exodus ban

On 24 April, the government effectively imposed an Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) ban for red zones deemed highly prone to COVID-19 spread. The exodus ban is in effect only for regions that have implemented large-scale social restriction (PSBB) status as approved by the government. At least 24 regions have gained Health Ministry approval for PSBB status.

The exodus ban aims to curb the spread of COVID-19 outside Greater Jakarta, which remains the red zone with the highest rate of human-to-human transmission in Indonesia. The first regions to impose PSBB are those in Greater Jakarta.

At the same time, Greater Jakarta is the main destination for people from various regions across the archipelago dreaming of a better life.

Central Java is among the highest contributors of migrants in Greater Jakarta.

Central Java is among the highest contributors of migrants in Greater Jakarta. Because of this, there is widespread concern that these urbanites plan to travel back to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri with their extended families.

The Transportation Ministry’s Idul Fitri 2019 traffic analysis showed that up to 14.9 million people were estimated to travel for the holiday from Greater Jakarta to regions all over the archipelago last year. Central Java sat on top as the main exodus destination, with 38 percent of the 14.9 million exodus travelers (amounting to 5.6 million people) going to the province.

Rounding out the top three were West Java with 3.7 million exodus travelers and East Java with 1.6 million exodus travelers. Without COVID-19, the number of exodus travelers this year is estimated to be around these figures.

With the exodus ban, the government aims to reduce the number of exodus travelers as much as possible. The goal is to cut off the spread of COVID-19 from red zones and to protect exodus destinations from severe virus spread.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

A banner containing suggestions not going home on Jalan Gelora, Gelora Village, Tanah Abang District, Central Jakarta, on Thursday (23/4/2020).

Unfortunately, it seemed that the ban was imposed a little too late, after some travelers had left Greater Jakarta for their hometowns. As PSBB began in Jakarta, soon followed by Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Tangerang, travelers left the capital earlier than usual.

The PSBB policy has severely affected casual and non-formal workers, for whom the restrictions on activities and mobility have resulted in lack of daily earnings. For them, there was no other choice but to leave Jakarta for their hometowns earlier while waiting for things to return to normal.

Also read: Indonesia Unite, in Coronavirus Threat

Early travelers

According to the Central Java administration, exodus travelers have arrived in the province since late March. As of 30 April 2020, at least 750,000 people had arrived in their hometowns.

Between then and 30 March, more than 13,000 exodus travelers arrived in Central Java every day on average.

The administration monitored all transportation modes going to the province, including intercity buses, trains, ships and flights, since 26 March. Between then and 30 March, more than 13,000 exodus travelers arrived in Central Java every day on average.

As of April, waves of exodus travelers arriving in Central Java continued, even if the number was declining at around 9 percent of 1,300 people per day. At the start of data collection on 26 March, almost 49,000 people arrived in Central Java. In the next days until mid-April, the number declined to between 10,000 and 20,000 a day.

After 15 April, the number continued to decline to below 10,000 per day. After the exodus ban on 24 April, the number plummeted to below 1,000 per day.

This was because all public transportations ceased to operate since 24 April, among other reasons. All train, ship and flight services stopped. Only buses still carry passengers.

Since the exodus ban, fewer and fewer buses are still transporting passengers to Central Java. One day after the exodus ban, 1,900 people still arrived on buses. However, in late April, only 200 a day still did.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

People prepare to board a bus on 28 March 2020 at Pasar Lembang Terminal in Tangerang municipality, Banten. Despite calls for the public not to go on mudik (exodus) for Ramadhan and Idul Fitri this year to help curb the spread of Covid-19, many people are heading back to their hometowns amid their loss of income due to the partial lockdown in the city. The physical distancing and work from home policies have halted economic activities in urban centers like Jakarta, particularly in the informal sector.

Exodus travelers spreading

However, as of 30 April, 618,299 exodus travelers had arrived in Central Java on public transportation, a part of 749,577 travelers that had arrived in the province’s 35 regencies and cities.

This means that more than 130,000 people traveled to their hometowns by private or rented vehicles instead of public transportations. Such vehicles are relatively difficult to detect, especially if the travelers use alternative routes with minimal monitoring.

In general, early exodus travelers have spread in all 35 regencies and cities in Central Java. The five areas with the most travelers are Brebes, Pemalang, Banyumas, Cilacap and Tegal regencies. Each of these regencies received more than 50,000 exodus travelers. For instance, 93,000 travelers are now in Brebes.

The residency, comprising the regencies of Batang, Pekalongan, Pemalang and Brebes as well as the cities of Pekalongan and Tegal, currently host 278,000 exodus travelers.

Through closer observation, of Central Java’s six former residencies, Pekalongan hosts the largest number of exodus travelers. The residency, comprising the regencies of Batang, Pekalongan, Pemalang and Brebes as well as the cities of Pekalongan and Tegal, currently host 278,000 exodus travelers.

Next is the former residency of Banyumas, comprising Cilacap, Banyumas, Purbalingga and Banjarnegara regencies. The four areas now host 174,000 exodus travelers.

Next is the former residency of Surakarta with around 121,000 exodus travelers. The area comprises the regencies of Boyolali, Klaten, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Karanganyar and Sragen as well as the city of Surakarta. Other areas, comprising the former residencies of Kedu, Pati and Semarang, host fewer than 80,000 exodus travelers each.

“Jogo Tonggo” program

Serious attention must be given to the presence of these early exodus travelers as most of them came from Covid-19 red zones.

In line with this, the Central Java administration has launched the “Jogo Tonggo” program one day after the central government issued its exodus ban for several regions in Indonesia. The program, launched on 25 April, aims to boost Covid-19 mitigation efforts in Central Java.

The “Jogo Tonggo” program and the exodus ban are closely interlinked in the current condition. The government has urged people to cancel their Idul Fitri exodus travel plans this year to cut off Covid-19 spread.

Covid-19 has spread massively in the region and steps must be taken to prevent the disease from spreading to Central Java.

Greater Jakarta is a prime example. Covid-19 has spread massively in the region and steps must be taken to prevent the disease from spreading to Central Java. Central Java’s “Jogo Tonggo” program is hoped to boost locals’ awareness down to household level so that they observe the people living closest to them.

Everyone is involved in the program, including karang taruna youth group members, Dasa Wisma women’s group members, integrated health post (Posyandu) workers, village nurses, agriculture trainers, community protection (Linmas) officers, community members and members of other

organizations linked to Covid-19 prevention. These “Jogo Tonggo” task forces are responsible to ensure that locals are working together to fight Covid-19 in their neighborhoods. They also ensure external support for effective and efficient fight against Covid-19.

Mutual assistance

The “Jogo Tonggo” program is carried out through mutual assistance with tasks divided into four task forces, comprising health, economy, social and security affairs and entertainment.

Each task force has a coordinator that must submit daily reports to village or subdistrict head. The task force must also encourage all locals to participate in its activities.

These four task forces are actively involved in Covid-19 prevention through optimizing activities involving locals. They are required to update their data on asymptomatic persons (OTG), persons under surveillance (ODP) and PDP, as well as supporting locals’ physical distancing. Task force members also make a list of poor locals and then help them secure aid packages.

Furthermore, they also cater to the needs of quarantined locals, record all locals going in and out, carry out routine neighborhood watch and provide entertainment for locals.

Through the program, locals are becoming increasingly aware on the conditions of their surroundings, especially related to Covid-19. The task force is also responsible to ensure that OTGs and ODPs stay inside their homes.

The presence of these OTGs and ODPs is closely linked to exodus travelers from Covid-19 red zones. Therefore, the Jogo Tonggo program is a social movement to monitor and remind locals to always obey health protocols.

Highly necessary

The “Jogo Tonggo” task force’s presence is highly needed as Central Java is ranked fourth in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases nationwide. As of 1 May, the province had 746 confirmed cases with a case fatality rate of around 8 percent. This is higher than the national average of 7.5 percent.

Ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday in May, it is believed that some exodus travelers will still try their luck in leaving Greater Jakarta. Even without public transportation services, including buses, trains, flights and ships, many are still strong-willed to get back to their hometowns.

A prediction from the Transportation Ministry research and development body reflects this. Data as of 30 April 2020 showed that around 490,000 people in Greater Jakarta still wished to travel back to their hometown. This will add to the 750,000 exodus travelers already in Central Java today.

Some villages have even provided special quarantine locations for new arrivals.

A majority of these travelers are from the red zone of Greater Jakarta. The “Jogo Tonggo” program ensures that exodus travelers are self-quarantined for 14 days upon arrival at their hometowns. Some villages have even provided special quarantine locations for new arrivals.

These exodus travelers are isolated immediately at special locations, such as houses, fields, school buildings or other locations, for two weeks. During the quarantine period, all their needs are provided by villagers to prevent them from going out.

Collaboration between the government and the people is highly necessary today in order to cut off Covid-19 spread. All forms and values of social care are included in the “Jogo Tonggo” program.

Right now, only time will tell how effective the “Jogo Tonggo” program is. Social and customary values are being tested to proof the strength of local wisdoms against an unseen enemy. (KOMPAS R&D)