TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Financial Management Agency (BPKD) Head, Edi Sumantri, confirmed that the city’s Parks and Forest Agency had to bury 146 bodies of COVID-19 patients yesterday, June 22. However, the officers were overwhelmed so some of the bodies were stored in the community health centers (Puskesmas).

“And today, they will be transported by truck because ambulances are no longer possible [to do the job]. One truck has a capacity to carry eight coffins,” said Edi during a meeting with the Jakarta Legislative Council's (DPRD) Commission C overseeing Finance on Wednesday, June 23.

Edi conveyed that one of the budgets for unexpected expenses (BTT) was allocated to the Park and Forest Agency worth Rp13.02 billion. Of that amount, the agency used Rp4.63 billion to buy coffins and personal protective equipment (PPE), Rp5.22 billion for incentive funds in January-March 2021, and Rp3.16 billion for the procurement of coffins, face masks, and rubber gloves.

“The budget will later increase again for the cost of buying coffins and others,” Edi explained.

The Jakarta Provincial Government allocated Rp2.13 trillion for unexpected expenses in the 2021 Regional Budget (APBD). The budget allocation is noted in Regional Regulation No. 4 of 2020 concerning Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budgets for the Fiscal Year 2021.

Previously, Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria on Tuesday, June 22, denied that the city administration transported the bodies of Covid-19 patients by truck. He said the city’s ambulances were still sufficient to transport patients who succumbed to the illness.

Read: Jakarta Deputy Denies Using Trucks to Transport Covid-19 Patients Bodies

LANI DIANA WIJAYA