Families turn to firewood for cooking

JAKARTA: Since the government raised the price of kerosene on Oct. 1, many families in the outlying areas of Jakarta have begun collecting firewood for cooking.

Families in Pondok Benda, Jatiasih, in Bekasi regency, have been seen searching for firewood in the area around their homes and in nearby housing complexes.

They cut branches from trees and lay them out to dry, as well as collecting discarded planks from housing complexes.

"Firewood is much cheaper (than kerosene), it only costs us the energy we spend collecting it," one woman said as quoted by Antara

The price of kerosene rose drastically from Rp 700 (about 69 US cents) a liter to Rp 2,000 a liter, when the government raised fuel prices earlier this month.

Retail shops, however, are reportedly selling kerosene for Rp 3,000 a liter, while street vendors sell the fuel for between Rp 2,700 and Rp 2,800 a liter. --JP