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)