Government builds 'quake-proof' house

BANDUNG: The Center for Housing Research and Development completed on Monday a prototype for an earthquake-resistant house, called the Healthy Modest Instantaneous House (RISHA).

The houses would be affordable for low-income people and were able to withstand earthquakes of up to 7.0 on the Richter scale, according to the Minister of Public Works, Djoko Kirmanto.

During the ceremony, Djoko entertained businesspeople and asked them to invest in the mass production of the houses. For Rp 200 million (US$22,222), a would-be investor could build 500 units and would get the money back within 13 months, he claimed. -- JP