YLKI demands subsidy for bus operators<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) urged
\nthe government on Wednesday to provide a subsidy for bus
\noperators to avoid a bus fare increase since Jakartans, based on
\nits last survey, could only pay a fare of up to Rp 600.<\/p>\n
Speaking after a meeting with councillors, city officials and
\nbus operators, YLKI deputy chairman Agus Pambagio said that based
\non a survey conducted by the foundation last year, people
\ngenerally would not be able to afford more than Rp 600 for the
\nregular bus fare, that currently stays at Rp 500.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Agus also acknowledged that bus operators would
\nstill suffer with a bus fare of Rp 600. This fare would not cover
\nbus companies' operational costs due to the rise in fuel and
\nspare parts prices.<\/p>\n
\"It's a dilemma. It's either the bus operators that would be
\nfinished or the public that would suffer.<\/p>\n
\"The government, therefore, should provide a subsidy. However,
\nthe mechanism for the distribution of the subsidy must be clear,\"
\nAgus told reporters at the City Council compound.<\/p>\n
The government earlier promised to give a subsidy of Rp 216
\nbillion to bus operators in 20 big cities across the country, but
\nuntil now, when and how it would be disbursed is still unclear.<\/p>\n
According to Agus, if the increase in bus fares was based
\nsolely on the fuel price rise, it would be insignificant since
\nthe fuel component constituted less than 10 percent of bus
\ncompanies' operational costs.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that the increase in spare parts prices had a
\ngreater impact on operational costs compared to the fuel price
\nincrease.<\/p>\n
The spare parts prices have risen due to the weakening of the
\nrupiah against the U.S. dollar as most of the imported parts are
\npaid for in dollars and sold to bus operators in rupiah, he said.<\/p>\n
\"So, the problem is in our macroeconomy. It would be normal if
\nthe rupiah's conversion rate returned to Rp 6,000 per dollar.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, the calculation of the bus fare increase should
\nnot be based on all contributing factors because we would not
\ncome to a reasonable level for the bus fare increase,\" Agus said
\nafter the meeting.<\/p>\n
On hand at the meeting were the head of the City Land
\nTransportation Agency (DLLAJ), Rustam Effendy, and the head of
\nthe city's Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda),
\nAip Syaifuddin.<\/p>\n
All participants at the meeting, with the exception of YLKI
\nexecutives, agreed to set up a team to calculate the most
\nacceptable bus fare.<\/p>\n
Separately, City Governor Sutiyoso urged the City Council to
\nconsider bus operators' interests and raise the level of its
\nrecommended fare increase.<\/p>\n
\"In the current situation, we should not anymore use politics
\nas the main consideration for bus fares. The council should
\nconsider technical matters as well,\" Sutiyoso told reporters on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The administration proposed an increase of between 40 percent
\nand 57 percent, while the council only recommended an increase of
\nbetween 14 percent and 30 percent.<\/p>\n
The city administration postponed on Tuesday the plan to
\nincrease the fare for a week due to differences between its
\nproposal and the council's recommendation. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ylki-demands-subsidy-for-bus-operators-1447893297",
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