Governor OKs lower bus fare rise, delays implementation

Governor OKs lower bus fare rise, delays implementation

JAKARTA (JP): Delaying the bus fare increase, City Governor
Sutiyoso said on Sunday that he would abide by the decision of
the City Council that approved a maximum increase of 30 percent.

The governor, who earlier promised to announce the bus fare
increase on Sunday, said that he would act in line with the
council's decision and likely announce the bus fare increase on
Tuesday, as demanded by the council.

"They (the council) represent the people. So, let's follow
their decision on the fares as long as it is appropriate. It
doesn't matter," he was quoted by Antara as saying after
launching the drive to free Jakarta from leaded gasoline.

The City Council issued a recommendation to the city
administration on Saturday to increase bus fares in the city by a
maximum of 30 percent, effective on Tuesday.

Based on the council's recommendation, the fare for regular
buses would be raised to Rp 650 from Rp 500, fare for medium-
sized buses like Kopaja and Metromini would be increased to Rp
800 from Rp 700 and for air-conditioned buses to Rp 3,000 from Rp
2,500.

The city administration had earlier proposed that bus fares be
increased by between 30 percent and 60 percent.

Council Chairman Edy Waluyo said the council's decision to cut
the city administration-proposed bus fares showed its sympathy
towards the people, especially the poor, during the present
difficult times.

In addition, the central government plans to provide subsidies
to bus operators following its decision to raise fuel prices in
the middle of June, he said.

The council's deputy chairman Jafar Badjeber said the decision
to impose the new fares on July 3 was aimed at giving an
opportunity to bus operators to make preparations for the new
fares.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Jakarta Organization of Land
Transportation Owners (Organda), Aip Syaifuddin, expressed
dissatisfaction with the new fares because the rates proposed by
Organda had been already been slashed by the governor before the
council's further reduction.

City bus operators through Organda had previously proposed bus
fare increases of up to 100 percent, which according to Aip was
still smaller than the rises in their costs.

The council's Commission D chairman Sayogo Hendro responded to
Organda's complaint by appealing for understanding on the part of
bus operators because the revised fares were not so different
from those proposed by the governor.

Bus operators and drivers had earlier threatened to stage a
massive strike in the city if the city administration did not
increase bus fares or increased them only marginally.

Asked about the rumored bus drivers' strike threat, Sutiyoso
said that his administration had cooperated with the institutions
concern, including the police and the military, to prepare for
any strike.

"About the strike, it would be dealt with by the city
administration through the making available of our vehicles for
transporting commuters," he said.