Fishermen offered new apartments 'next year'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

North Jakarta mayor Effendi Anas said the evicted fishermen from Kali Adem in Muara Angke, North Jakarta, would be able to move into new low-cost apartments provided by the Jakarta administration next year.

"The construction of the apartments will be finished in November. New tenants could stay there early next year," Effendi told Governor Sutiyoso on Sunday during the latter's visit to the construction site.

Effendi said that 583 fishermen and their families evicted in October last year would be able to stay at the apartments and pay rent of just Rp 90,000 (US$9.6) per month, not including the tap water and electricity charges. "I think the fee is affordable for them since they could earn a minimum income of Rp 150,000 every three working days."

However, Sutiyoso ordered Effendi to carry out a more detailed survey on the fishermen's financial ability to ensure that all of them could afford the rent and utilities.

"We want them to have better conditions in life in their new homes. We have to exclude those who are really poor from the fee if necessary," said Sutiyoso.

The construction of the apartments over the 1.5-hectare area is being jointly financed by the management of Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) housing complex and the Tsu Chi Buddhist Foundation.

Officials said that the PIK management would build 320 units of the apartments as part of its compensation to fulfill its obligation to build public and social facilities in the housing estate, while the foundation will finance the other 340 units.

Stephen Huang, the chief executive officer of the Tsu Chi International said that the project was the second in Jakarta.

The foundation built 1,100 low-cost apartment units last year in East Cengkareng, West Jakarta.