City launches community renovation projects
City launches community renovation projects
JAKARTA (JP): Entering his third year of leadership, Governor
Sutiyoso on Tuesday launched an integrated pilot project for
social and community development in the city's slum areas.
The initial project, the first of its kind since the country
was seriously hit by the economic crisis in mid-1997, was held in
the Kalibaru subdistrict in North Jakarta.
"This is such a new approach to alleviate poverty and develop
the city's slum areas, as all related city agencies coordinate
their individual projects in an integrated project in a specific
area," Sutiyoso said while spontaneously making a speech marking
the initiation of the project.
Previously, he added, each agency had its projects in separate
areas, which made it difficult to get a whole picture of the
progress of the development projects in those areas.
He said the Kalibaru project, which is estimated to cost some
Rp 1.44 billion (US$199,000), will be financed by the city's
1999/2000 budget.
The governor called on city residents to understand that the
city currently had limited funds which made it impossible to
alleviate poverty in such a short time.
"We hope the city will have better revenue in the coming years
so we can work on more development projects," he said.
Sutiyoso warned residents of certain organizations which
called themselves "defenders" of the poor.
"Is it really defending the poor by asking them to stage
demonstrations? Residents should be careful," he said.
He said the city administration would go ahead with more
integrated development projects if the Kalibaru project was
successful.
"We will pursue similar projects in the city's 15 other slum
areas," he said.
Next package
Separately, the head of the City Development Planning Board,
Bambang Sungkono, said each of the city's five mayoralties had
proposed three poorest subdistricts to be included in the future
integrated projects.
"The North Jakarta mayoralty has proposed Cilincing, Papanggo,
and Tanjung Priok subdistricts. And each subdistrict will be
allotted more than Rp 3 billion for the project," he said, while
citing examples.
North Jakarta Mayor Soebagio told Sutiyoso that there were 17
parts of the Kalibaru project to be carried out in 60 days.
"The items include the construction of two bridges across the
Banglio river, the betterment of 45 houses which are in a poor
condition and the establishment of equipment for religious and
youth activities," he said.
Soebagio said recipients of the house improvement project had
been carefully selected.
"They must be city residents with valid KTP (identity cards),
otherwise migrants will flock to the city," he said.
The mayor also said that military personnel from the city
military command were involved in the project.
After addressing the speech, Sutiyoso visited several project
sites, including the house of Kodir, a fishermen, whose house is
included in the improvement project.
Kodir told the governor that he had not been fishing for more
than two years as he had lost his fishing boat.
"Do you want to have a new boat? How much does it cost to buy
a new one?" Sutiyoso asked Kodir.
"It's about Rp 400,000, Pak Governor. Once I have a new one, I
will be able to start working again," replied Kodir.
"Fine, I will give you the money to buy a new boat. But you
have to promise to get to work. You can contact my adjutant,"
Sutiyoso said.
Sutiyoso, however, immediately gave Kodir the money after
inspecting Kodir's house.
"Here, I'll give you the money now so you don't have to dream
of having a new boat anymore," he said while handing over four Rp
100,000 banknotes.
Sutiyoso then inspected the sites of the future bridges across
the Banglio river. He also hammered bamboo stilts on the Banglio
river bank to mark the construction of the bridges. (05)