Families turn to firewood for cooking

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