Governor rejects plan for PPD management handover<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso rejected on Thursday the House
\nof Representatives (DPR) plan to transfer the management of the
\nstate-owned city bus company PPD to the city administration as
\nthe company is in poor financial condition.<\/p>\n
\"We will gladly accept the transfer as it's in line with 1999
\nLaw No. 22 on Regional Autonomy, but not at current conditions
\nwhen the company has a huge debt,\" he told reporters at City
\nHall.<\/p>\n
The company reportedly has incurred some Rp 49.6 billion
\n(US$6.79 million) debt to cover its operating costs.<\/p>\n
\"We want the debts to be settled first before it is
\ntransferred to the city administration.<\/p>\n
\"We intend to provide better management to PPD once the
\ncompany is transferred to us. It's our priority to provide a
\nrepresentative public transportation to the residents,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Data at the city administration shows PPD was once managed by
\nthe administration for almost 10 years from Sept. 1, 1961 to Dec.
\n31, 1980.<\/p>\n
Members of House Commission IV on Infrastructure and
\nTransportation Affairs suggested on Wednesday that the management
\nof PPD should be transferred from the central government to the
\ncity administration.<\/p>\n
They said it was unfair for the central government to manage
\nthe firm as it only serves city residents.<\/p>\n
Legislator Ali Hardi Kiaidemak of the United Development Party
\n(PPP) said it was unfair that PPD, which was funded by the State
\nBudget (APBN), only served residents of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Another member, Muhammad Akil of the Golkar Party, said city
\ntransportation was never managed by the central government, and
\ngood public transportation was a good way to represent a
\nsuccessful governor or mayor to countries such as Japan and the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
City Council speaker Edy Waluyo shared Sutiyoso's stance,
\nsaying PPD's debt was the responsibility of the central
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"The central government asked for the loan, so it should repay
\nthe debt before it transfers PPD to the city administration,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Head of City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency Buyung
\nAtang said more than half of PPD's buses were inactive because of
\nthe company's poor condition.<\/p>\n
\"PPD has more than 2,000 buses but there are only some 600
\nbuses in operation nowadays,\" he said, adding that the company
\nserved 58 routes in the city.<\/p>\n
The company's buses are known for their poor appearance,
\nespecially those in economy class service.<\/p>\n
Buses of other classes, especially those equipped with air
\nconditioners (AC), have slightly better appearance as they impose
\nhigher tariffs. Passengers only pay Rp 700 for non-AC restricted
\nbuses (PATAS) and Rp 2,300 for AC restricted (PATAS AC) buses.
\n(05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/governor-rejects-plan-for-ppd-management-handover-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}