Apartments are the last choice: Professor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Low-cost apartments are not the only way to
\nsolve the city's housing problem, Johan Silas, a professor of the
\nSurabaya-based Technology Institute, said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"We should only use low-cost apartments if there are no other
\nfeasible alternatives available in a location,\" Johan told
\nreporters during a break of a two-day seminar on Crowdedness and
\nHealth.<\/p>\n
The seminar was held by the United Nations Center for Human
\nSettlements, in cooperation with the City Housing Office, the
\nUrban Health Study Group of the Atmajaya University and
\nCOWIConsult.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which was attended by about 100 participants, was
\naimed at discussing and disseminating the results of a study on
\npopulation crowdedness and health.<\/p>\n
Johan said that other alternatives to solve the housing
\nproblems are the kampong improvement program, which was
\nintroduced for the first time in 1968 in Jakarta and Surabaya,
\nand the construction of double-story houses.<\/p>\n
He said that even though it is not formally stated, the
\nIndonesian housing policy has a dualistic character. On the one
\nhand it helps people who cannot afford to buy their own houses
\nand on the other hand it provides funds for the improvement of
\npublic facilities in kampongs, whose residents have built their
\nhouses without any subsidy from the government.<\/p>\n
However, he admitted that there are certain circumstances
\nwhere the construction of low-cost apartments is a must.<\/p>\n
\"Apartments are not the best alternative but there are certain
\nconditions where they are needed, especially in crowded areas,\"
\nhe added.<\/p>\n
Ongky Sukasah, head of the City Housing Office, said at the
\nseminar, \"The low-cost apartment concept is still new to all of
\nus but society has already had the initiative to ask for the
\nfacilities from the government, such as the one in the Bendungan
\nHilir subdistrict, Central Jakarta. The local residents, for
\nexample, asked Minister of Public Housing to build low-cost
\napartments.\"<\/p>\n
He said that many experts from other countries made Jakarta as
\na model, to solve their housing problems.<\/p>\n
\"The experts wonder why Jakarta, a city with a high
\npopulation, still manages to control the situation in the city,
\nnaturally. They want to know the kind of policy introduced by the
\ncity administration,\" Ongky said.<\/p>\n
Answering a question on the many reports of land disputes, due
\nto low compensation from developers of low-cost apartment
\nprojects, Johan said, \"They happen because the developers do not
\ninvolve the society in decision making. If they involve local
\nresidents, there will be no problems,\" Johan said. (31)<\/p>",
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