Governor issues decree on new transport fares
Governor issues decree on new transport fares
JAKARTA (JP): A gubernatorial decree issued yesterday should eliminate public confusion over the new public transport fares announced last week by the government.
Governor Surjadi Soedirdja signed decree No.572/1996 which regulates the enforcement of a ministerial decree on public transport fares in Jakarta.
"The decree aims to end confusion among Jakartans about the new fares and it is also an official announcement that the new fares can be enforced in Jakarta," JP Sepang, head of the city land transportation agency, said.
The new fares have become a subject of dispute between passengers and operators. The confusion has even spread to price rises of daily goods in several markets.
Sepang has said that the fares cannot automatically be imposed in the city because according to the existing regulation the government's decision should be followed by a gubernatorial decree.
The head of the city's Land Transportation Owners Organization (Organda), Aip Syarifuddin, had asked the organization's members to wait for the decree before increasing fares.
However, most public transport fares have already been raised. Drivers and owners referred to the announcement by Minister Haryanto Dhanutirto who said the new fares were effective as of April 4.
Sepang said it was difficult for the land transport agency to stop owners of public vehicles from increasing fares before a governor's decree was issued.
He said the decree also regulates other sectors which are not covered by the ministerial decree such as the fares of minivans, locally called Mikrolet.
The decree stipulates that Mikrolet fares increase by Rp 100. This means the fares for the longest routes have increased from Rp 500 to Rp 600.
Sepang said the decision was taken to coordinate minivan fares with those of other public transportation vehicles, and to avoid illegal fare hikes.
He said minivan fares are not regulated by the government but are based on agreements between drivers and passengers.
Aip, the city's chairman of Organda, said although the fares are based on agreements, it is important that the municipality control the increase.
Organda also proposed yesterday an increase of fares of air- conditioned buses from Rp 1,300 to Rp 2,000, but Aip said this was turned down.
"We were told to propose a lower increase," Aip said.
Sepang also denied suggestions that taxi drivers raise their fares based on a list issued by the land transport agency.
"Most of the drivers bought the list in the Blok M market," he said.
Meanwhile, market traders said prices of various goods are now higher than before the announcement.
"We don't know the relation between the rise in public transport fares with prices of goods, but anyway prices are rising," Rosnah, a trader in the Blok A market in South Jakarta said.
Bawang merah (small red onions) have increased from Rp 3,500 (US$1.52) per kilogram to Rp 4,000 per kilogram. Garlic has risen from Rp 8,000 per kilogram to Rp 9,000 per kilogram.
Imported meat rose from Rp 11,000 per kilogram to Rp 12,500 per kilogram. Red chilies rose from Rp 3,500 per kilogram to Rp 4,000. (yns/04)