City Government Builds Communal Toilets to Promote Clean Living Habits in Cilincing

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The North Jakarta City Government is building communal toilets for coastal communities in Kalibaru Ward, Cilincing District, North Jakarta, as an effort to improve sanitation quality and promote changes in clean living behaviours in the local environment.

“The existence of communal toilets is not merely physical construction, but a manifestation of collaboration and social concern to fulfil the basic needs of the community,” said Deputy Mayor of the North Jakarta Administrative City, Fredy Setiawan, in Jakarta on Friday.

He explained that this inauguration is a concrete step in improving sanitation quality while encouraging changes in clean living behaviours among residents.

“This is not just about building facilities, but part of a collective effort to enhance the quality of life for the community,” he said.

According to him, maintaining the built facilities and increasing community awareness of environmental cleanliness is very important.

He reminded residents not to litter indiscriminately and to start managing waste at the source to reduce the burden on the Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) Bantargebang.

“Collaboration between the government, community, business world, and social organisations is very important. We hope this becomes a pioneer and a good example for other areas,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kalibaru Ward Head Sukarmin said that RW 04 area was previously a coastal zone vulnerable to tidal flooding.

According to him, with the presence of embankments, the environmental conditions have now improved, but sanitation needs remain a challenge, including uneven access to clean water.

He said the existence of these communal toilets is very beneficial in supporting the stop open defecation (BABS) programme.

“We continue to work with the community health centre so that the community shifts to more adequate sanitation,” he said.

Meanwhile, a resident of RW 04 Kalibaru, Sri Sumarni, said the public communal toilet facility in the area is indeed what the coastal Kalibaru residents need.

“It is very helpful, and we hope similar developments can be expanded to other RT environments,” she said.