Police officers get houses in Tangerang

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo inaugurated 310 houses at the police-owned Pondok Daru Permai complex at Daru village in Tigaraksa, Tangerang, yesterday.

In his speech, Dibyo said housing facilities were designed to help improve officers' welfare.

"If they worry less about their families' needs, such as housing, then they will be able to concentrate more on accomplishing their duties," Dibyo said.

He said housing was an officer's fundamental need, which had been a cause for concern by superiors.

A reliable source from the City Police Logistics Department who asked for anonymity said nearly half of Jakarta's 17,000 police personnel were currently living in improper housing.

The 310 houses inaugurated yesterday were part of 1,095 houses to be built at the 24-hectare Pondok Daru Permai complex in Tigaraksa, about a 90-minute drive from Jakarta.

According to Dibyo, the project, which will cost around Rp 7.5 billion (US$2.9 million), is managed by Yayasan Brata Bhakti Polri, a foundation for retired police officers.

Of the 310 houses that have been completed, 173 were 21-square-meters, 50 were 36-square-meters, 60 were 45-square- meters, two were 54-square-meters, and 20 were 70-square-meters, in addition to five 20-square-meter shop houses.

The houses were offered to police officers with a Rp 3 million discount off sales prices, which started from as low as Rp 12.5 million for the smallest house.

Although many police officers and their families were still living in shabby homes, the management of Pondok Daru Permai allowed the public to purchase houses there at normal prices.

In the meantime, 263 houses were still being built, together with several facilities, including houses of worship, a medical center, a sports center and a children's playground.

Earlier in May, Dibyo inaugurated 490 apartments, worth Rp 17 billion, for police families and single officers in the Kalideres and Jati Petamburan districts of West Jakarta. (cst)