Depok residents receive land certificates

Depok residents receive land certificates

JAKARTA (JP): As many as 1,022 residents of Depok subdistrict
on Saturday received land certificates processed through a newly
introduced program, sponsored by the World Bank and the
Australian government.

Soni Harsono, head of the National Land Agency, symbolically
handed over certificates to 26 land owners in a ceremony on
Saturday. Representatives of the World Bank and the Australian
government attended the ceremony.

A total of Rp 295 billion (US$140 million) has been allocated
to fund systematic programs throughout the country. Part of the
money, $60 million, was a World Bank loan, and another $15.2
million was an Australian government grant. The Indonesian
government alone allocated $40 million.

The new program, called Pendaftaran Tanah Sistematis
(Systematic Land Registration), is different from the usual
method practiced by the agency. It's faster and cheaper than the
usual arrangement.

In the systematic program, agency officials visit land owners
and register details concerning the ownership of the land.
Land owners just produce their land documents and property tax
receipts.

Residents pay only Rp 11,500 for a certificate to the plot of
land they own, regardless of the measurement of the land. An
owner of a 200-square-meter plot normally would have to pay Rp 1
million to arrange a certificate through "regular" procedures.

Unlike the usual process which could take years, systematic
program certification takes just seven months.

Soni said that Depok subdistrict, some 20 kilometers south of
Jakarta, was chosen as the pilot urban project of the Systematic
Land Registration program, while Karawang regency, West Java, was
chosen as the pilot rural project.

Soni said the Depok subdistrict has 1,400 plots of land,
including the 1,022 just-certified plots. Many land owners
already have certificates through the old procedure.

Only 142 plots have not been issued certificates in the
subdistrict for various reasons.

Several owners of uncertified land live overseas, and others
rejected the land registration, Soni said.

Julianus Suripaty, 60, a former employee of a private firm,
told The Jakarta Post that he welcomed the program, which has
proven simple and cheap.

Another resident, Eddi Nalin said that he had previously
failed to apply for a land certificate because of the high cost.
"At least we must pay Rp 1 million to obtain a certificate
through the normal procedure. The new program helps me a lot," he
stated.

Regent Eddy Yoso demanded that the government expand the
program to other subdistricts in Bogor.

The government plans to issue between 70 and 75 million land
certificates in the next 25 years. (29)