Surabaya (ANTARA) - Committee A of Surabaya City Legislative Council (DPRD) has urged the local government to waive the water bill for middle to lower economic status group for two months to placate the impact of community activities restriction (PPKM).

"We urge the Surabaya city government to waive the water bill for the next two months," Arif Fathoni of the Surabaya DPRD stated.

Fathoni deemed such measure necessary in order to address the declining economic conditions of people with middle to lower economic status, which had gradually worsened since prolonged PPKM was enforced.

He expects the Surabaya government to waive the water bill for the subsequent two months in order to assist the poor people.

Fathoni revealed that emergency PPKM, enforced to suppress people's mobility and restrict public activities, had impacted the people, especially in the economic sector.

"All decisions regarding PPKM are the central government's rights. However, we expect the Surabaya government to do its best in handling COVID-19," he affirmed.

"At least, it could ease the spending of the people whose economic situation is (affected)," Fathoni stressed.

Fathoni also sought active involvement of the Kampung Tangguh Task Force, formed at the village level across Surabaya, to educate people regarding health protocols.

Fathoni suggested the village heads to communicate with their respective neighborhood association/community groups (RT/RW) staffs in order to activate the Kampugn Tangguh Task Force.

Secretary of Surabaya city government Hendro Gunawan remarked that budget amounting to Rp446 billion (about US$30.6 million) for COVID-19 handling had been allocated for Surabaya for the July-December 2021 period and Rp200 billion was covered by the Regional Health Budget (APBD).

"Everything has been refocused. Yet these are still not sufficient. Not to account Regional Revenue (PAD) that is projected with a Rp1.5 trillion (about US$103 million) decline," Gunawan stated.

He revealed that the Surabaya government was seeking cooperation from all stakeholders to combat COVID-19. He also invited the public to partake in efforts to halt the spread of the virus.

Gunawan called on the public to donate through the "Surabaya Calling" Program held at the Surabaya Disaster Care Posts (Posko Surabaya Peduli Bencana). Related news: East Java projected to attain herd immunity in August: Prabowo
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Translator: Abdul Hakim, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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