City launches community renovation projects<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Entering his third year of leadership, Governor
\nSutiyoso on Tuesday launched an integrated pilot project for
\nsocial and community development in the city's slum areas.<\/p>\n
The initial project, the first of its kind since the country
\nwas seriously hit by the economic crisis in mid-1997, was held in
\nthe Kalibaru subdistrict in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"This is such a new approach to alleviate poverty and develop
\nthe city's slum areas, as all related city agencies coordinate
\ntheir individual projects in an integrated project in a specific
\narea,\" Sutiyoso said while spontaneously making a speech marking
\nthe initiation of the project.<\/p>\n
Previously, he added, each agency had its projects in separate
\nareas, which made it difficult to get a whole picture of the
\nprogress of the development projects in those areas.<\/p>\n
He said the Kalibaru project, which is estimated to cost some
\nRp 1.44 billion (US$199,000), will be financed by the city's
\n1999\/2000 budget.<\/p>\n
The governor called on city residents to understand that the
\ncity currently had limited funds which made it impossible to
\nalleviate poverty in such a short time.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the city will have better revenue in the coming years
\nso we can work on more development projects,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso warned residents of certain organizations which
\ncalled themselves \"defenders\" of the poor.<\/p>\n
\"Is it really defending the poor by asking them to stage
\ndemonstrations? Residents should be careful,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the city administration would go ahead with more
\nintegrated development projects if the Kalibaru project was
\nsuccessful.<\/p>\n
\"We will pursue similar projects in the city's 15 other slum
\nareas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Next package<\/p>\n
Separately, the head of the City Development Planning Board,
\nBambang Sungkono, said each of the city's five mayoralties had
\nproposed three poorest subdistricts to be included in the future
\nintegrated projects.<\/p>\n
\"The North Jakarta mayoralty has proposed Cilincing, Papanggo,
\nand Tanjung Priok subdistricts. And each subdistrict will be
\nallotted more than Rp 3 billion for the project,\" he said, while
\nciting examples.<\/p>\n
North Jakarta Mayor Soebagio told Sutiyoso that there were 17
\nparts of the Kalibaru project to be carried out in 60 days.<\/p>\n
\"The items include the construction of two bridges across the
\nBanglio river, the betterment of 45 houses which are in a poor
\ncondition and the establishment of equipment for religious and
\nyouth activities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soebagio said recipients of the house improvement project had
\nbeen carefully selected.<\/p>\n
\"They must be city residents with valid KTP (identity cards),
\notherwise migrants will flock to the city,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The mayor also said that military personnel from the city
\nmilitary command were involved in the project.<\/p>\n
After addressing the speech, Sutiyoso visited several project
\nsites, including the house of Kodir, a fishermen, whose house is
\nincluded in the improvement project.<\/p>\n
Kodir told the governor that he had not been fishing for more
\nthan two years as he had lost his fishing boat.<\/p>\n
\"Do you want to have a new boat? How much does it cost to buy
\na new one?\" Sutiyoso asked Kodir.<\/p>\n
\"It's about Rp 400,000, Pak Governor. Once I have a new one, I
\nwill be able to start working again,\" replied Kodir.<\/p>\n
\"Fine, I will give you the money to buy a new boat. But you
\nhave to promise to get to work. You can contact my adjutant,\"
\nSutiyoso said.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, however, immediately gave Kodir the money after
\ninspecting Kodir's house.<\/p>\n
\"Here, I'll give you the money now so you don't have to dream
\nof having a new boat anymore,\" he said while handing over four Rp
\n100,000 banknotes.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso then inspected the sites of the future bridges across
\nthe Banglio river. He also hammered bamboo stilts on the Banglio
\nriver bank to mark the construction of the bridges. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-launches-community-renovation-projects-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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