People resigned to paying more for transportation<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Post<\/p>\n
As the city administration intends to increase bus fares, many
\nlower income people say they have no choice but to accept the
\nreality even though it will force them to further tighten their
\nbelts.<\/p>\n
Bondan, 35, a resident of Kemayoran subdistrict in Central
\nJakarta, said he would have to recalculate his family budget
\nafter the government increased fuel prices two weeks ago, which
\nforced up the prices of other basic commodities.<\/p>\n
"A day after the fuel price increases, my wife complained that
\nthe prices of other goods had also increased. I can only listen
\nto her complaints without being able to give her additional
\nmoney," Bondan, a worker at a Pulo Gadung garment firm, told The
\nJakarta Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Head of the city transportation agency Rustam Effendy said on
\nFriday that his agency had agreed with the Organization of Land
\nTransportation Owners (Organda) and the Indonesian Consumers
\nFoundation (YLKI) to raise land transportation fares by between
\n25 percent and 66 percent. But it has yet to be approved by the
\nCity Council.<\/p>\n
Fares for regular buses are set to increase from Rp 700 to Rp
\n1,000 (43 percent), limited seat buses and medium-sized buses
\nfrom Rp 900 to Rp 1,200 (33 percent), public minivans from Rp
\n1,300 to Rp 1,600 (25 percent). Fares for students are expected
\nto increase from Rp 300 to Rp 500 (66 percent).<\/p>\n
Rustam said the fare increases were not only due to the fuel
\nprice increases, but were mainly due to the increased price of
\nspare parts and lubricant oils several months ago.<\/p>\n
Spare parts traders in Atrium shopping center in Central
\nJakarta confirmed the price increase of spare parts and
\nlubricants. They noted that the recent fuel price hike would only
\nslightly affect bus fares.<\/p>\n
Botek, who runs the Sentra Motor Lubricants store in the same
\nshopping center, concurred with Aseng.<\/p>\n
Bondan, whose monthly salary is Rp 1 million, has four family
\nmembers to support. His two children attend elementary school in
\nKemayoran.<\/p>\n
He currently spends Rp 5,000 per day or Rp 125,000 per month
\non public transportation from his house in Kemayoran to his
\noffice in Pulo Gadung. If bus fares increase this week he will
\nhave to spend another Rp 500 per day or Rp 25,000 per month,
\nwhich will significantly eat into his already tight budget.<\/p>\n
Ramelan, 54, an employee at the public works agency, said
\nyounger colleagues at his office often tell him about their
\nfinancial difficulties. "The new fuel prices will further burden
\nthem," he said.<\/p>\n
Ramelan said that a new employee in his office only earned Rp
\n750,000 per month at the most, while many other earned much less.
\nThe Rp 750,000 consists of a Rp 400,000 basic salary, a Rp
\n200,000 transportation allowance and a Rp 150,000 welfare bonus.<\/p>\n
"Lucky those who live close to their office as they spend less
\non transportation. But what happens to people who live far way,
\nlike in Bekasi. That (their earnings) will not be enough," said
\nRamelan, a resident of Palmerah subdistrict in Central Jakarta.<\/p>",
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