City suffers Rp 400b in losses

Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration estimated on Friday that it has suffered as much as Rp 400 billion (US$40 million) in losses due damages to public facilities caused by the recent flooding.

Deputy Governor for Development Affairs Budhihardjo Sukmadi announced that the destruction took place on roads, school buildings, and three traditional markets, including Cipulir market in South Jakarta.

"We hope that we could repair the damages, so that situation will return to normal within the next two months," Budhihardjo told reporters at City Hall.

To repair the damaged roads alone, the City Public Works Agency will need Rp 187 billion.

The agency head IGKG Suena said that some Rp 80 billion has been allocated this year for the budget, while the remaining Rp 107 billion was expected to be taken from the city's emergency fund, which amounted to Rp 505 billion.

Separately, City Social Agency head Endang W. Dungga said that her agency needed Rp 16 billion with which to repair a social rehabilitation center and two nursery homes, which had been destroyed by the flood.

Endang said that Rp 1 billion would be used to renovate the center in Kedoya, and another Rp 300 million to rehabilitate a nursery home in Jelambar, all in West Jakarta.

The balance, about Rp 14.7 billion, would be needed to build a new nursery home to replace the one in Kramatjati, East Jakarta, which was completely damaged during the flood.

Two elderly people died last week after suffering from cold weather during flooding in their nursery home, where the water level was three meters high.

As many as 179 elderly people have been evacuated and placed in another nursery home in Tebet, South Jakarta.