Government of Timor-Leste

Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Eighth Constitutional Government

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Press Release

Meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 1, 2021

The Council of Ministers met at the Ministry of Finance Auditorium, in Dili and, after analysing the presentation of the country's epidemiological situation, given by the coordinators of the Situation Room of the Integrated Centre for Crisis Management (CIGC), decided:

• Maintain the imposition of General Compulsory Confinement (lockdown) of the Population of the Municipality of Dili, including people who are vaccinated against COVID-19, until September 9^th, 2021. The Council of Ministers will reassess this measure at its next meeting on September 8^th.

All persons in the Dili Municipality, including those vaccinated against COVID-19, are still obliged to stay at home and may only leave for reasons of health, work (in the case of public administration, the superior defines which employees are not exempt from the duty to attend), to access basic goods and services and to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

All commercial, industrial, handicraft or service provision establishments of the private sector of the economy developing activities in the Municipality of Dili are closed to the public, with the exceptions previously foreseen

Compared to the previous Government's Resolution, there are only two changes: it is allowed to leave the residence in order to, on the one hand, register voters and, on the other hand, to ensure the operation of pest control service companies (Pest Control).

• Not to renew the imposition of General Compulsory Confinement (lockdown) on the Population of the Administrative Posts of Ermera and Railaco, in the Municipality of Ermera  

• Impose a sanitary fence in the Municipality of Manufahi, between September 2nd and September 15th, 2021

It is prohibited to enter and leave this municipality, except for reasons of public safety, public health, humanitarian assistance, maintenance of the public supply systems or in the public interest.

This prohibition does not apply to persons who provide proof of the full vaccination (two doses) against COVID-19 and to accompanying children under the age of six.

• The remaining sanitary fences still in place remained unchanged

The Council of Ministers approved the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Vice-Minister of Social Solidarity, Signi Chandrawati Verdial, for the creation of pregnancy and child allowances, jointly called Bolsa da Mãe - Nova Geração, and for the first amendment to Decree-Law no. 18/2012, of April 4th.

The aim of this draft Decree-Law is to reform the "Bolsa da Mãe" programme to ensure that it has a more significant impact on reducing poverty and promoting national human capital. The "Bolsa da Mãe" will now include two additional benefits, which aim to provide social support in pregnancy and early childhood, improve maternal and child health and nutrition, promote economic inclusion and foster the local economy.

The programme will be implemented in a phased or progressive manner, ensuring as a priority the actions in the geographical areas with the highest rates of poverty and malnutrition and the protection of pregnancy and early childhood. Thus, the programme will be progressively extended to the entire national territory over 5 years, starting in 2022 with the municipalities of Ainaro and Bobonaro and the Special Administrative Region Oe-Cusse Ambeno ( RAEOA). In 2023, Bolsa da Mãe - nova geração will be extended to the municipalities of Covalima, Liquiça, Manatuto and Viqueque. The municipalities of Manufahi, Ermera, Baucau, Aileu and Lautem will be included in the programme in 2024. Finally, Bolsa da Mãe will cover the municipality of Dili in 2025.

Also approved, with amendments, was the draft Decree-Law, presented by the Minister of State Administration, Miguel Pereira de Carvalho, defining the general regime of the " Programa Movimento Hafoun (Regeneração) Aldeia" (PMOHA) and establishing its guiding principles and implementation conditions.

This program results from the signing, in 2016, of a memorandum of understanding between Saemaul Undong of the Republic of Korea and the Government of Timor-Leste, under which an experimental program was implemented in four villages in the Municipality of Lautém, in the four-year period from 2016 to 2020. This diploma proceeds with the creation of a legal framework to support the implementation of the programme at a national level.

The PMOHA programme aims to promote and develop community economic activities in order to achieve economic return and community engagement at village level, directing individual effort towards common benefit.

Finally, the draft Decree-Law for the second amendment to Decree-Law no. 8/2013, of June 26th , referring to the General Regime of the National Village (Sucos) Development Programme (PNDS) was also approved. This draft Decree-Law aims to review and update the value of subsidised projects that include the social housing project Uma ba ema kbiit laek, establishing that the maximum value of the grant is USD 125,000 until the completion of the said project. END