Apartment permits facilitated

JAKARTA (JP): Ongky Sukasah, head of the City Housing Office, said yesterday that the city administration will speed up the processing of permits for the construction of low-cost apartments.

The speedier processing is designed to attract private investors to the low-cost apartment business, Ongky said at a seminar on Crowding and Health.

The seminar was held by United Nations Center for Human Settlements, in cooperation with the City Housing Office, the Urban Health Study Group of Atmajaya University and COWIConsult.

Ongky also said that the city administration will build more low-cost apartments for rent.

"It is time to build more rental apartments for the lower and middle class segments of society," Ongky said.

The monthly rents will range from Rp 50,000 (US$22.7) to Rp 60,000 per month for 14, 18 and 36 square meter units, he said.

At the moment, some apartment managements are already using the rental system. Examples are Pondok Kelapa apartments in East Jakarta, Penjaringan apartments in North Jakarta and the Tambora Raya and Cengkareng apartments in West Jakarta. (31)