Wed, 19 Jan 2000

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)