Prices won't change for holiday season
JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor M. Idroes has assured Jakartans that there will be no rise in food prices, nor any transportation problems during the festive season.
"The people of Jakarta should not be wary concerning their food and transportation needs for Christmas and New Year celebrations because the city administration and other related bodies have fully prepared things," said M. Idroes on Thursday.
The statement was released after he made site inspections at the Jatinegara central market, Pulogadung inter-city bus terminal, both in East Jakarta and Senen railway station in Central Jakarta.
During his inspection at the Jatinegara market, the deputy governor was informed that the market sells 2,250 tons of rice daily at the average price of Rp 850 per kilogram (kg) and 500 tons of cooking oil daily with an average price of Rp 1,450 per liter.
Each day the market also sells 23,000 kilograms of sugar at an average price of Rp 1,300 per kg, 32,000 kg of flour at Rp 816 per kg, 500 head of cattle per day, 300 tons of eggs and 1,500 tons of vegetables.
However, the deputy governor discovered there was a price rise for certain commodities such as fish, particular cuts of beef, chili and spices.
The governor was also informed that prices of ready to wear apparel in the markets are not affected by such big events since the supply of and demand for goods is balanced.
According to the city spokesman the price increases in Jatinegara market which range from five to 10 percent is still controllable, while Deputy Governor Idroes has ordered the city logistic agency chief to control commodity prices.
Meanwhile, a trader in the market assured the deputy governor that there will be no significant price rise since there is ample stock.
During his site inspection at Senen railway station, Pulogadung inter-city bus terminal and Soekarno-Hatta international airport, the deputy governor said the city and the Jakarta chapter of the transportation ministry has provided enough buses to serve Jakartans over the festive week.
According to the city spokesman, 6,364 buses are ready to carry the people of Jakarta out of town and around 100 additional buses will be ready to back up the fleet.
The deputy governor asked ticket counter officials and passengers of inter-city buses at Pulogadung terminal about bus fares and he concluded there had been no increase for inter-city buses.
The Chief of City Land Transportation, J.P. Sepang, who accompanied the deputy governor during the inspections, warned that he will temporarily revoke the business license of any bus company which raises its fares.
During his site inspection at the Soekarno-Hatta international airport, deputy governor Idroes was briefed by Suhardono, the airport authority chief, and told the activity of the airport was still normal.
Suhardono reported to the deputy governor that most domestic passengers departing from Soekarno-Hatta airport are bound mostly for North Sumatra, North Sulawesi, and the eastern part of the country, while the most favored foreign destinations are Singapore and Hong Kong.
Based on a statement made available to The Jakarta Post yesterday, the state-owned train company Perumka will provide around 29,550 seats, while the state liner company Pelni has provided nine vessels which accommodate 17,788 people.
During the site inspections, the deputy governor was accompanied by high ranking officials of the city administration, such as Ismunandar, the deputy speaker of the city council and Brig. Gen. Kustiyoso, the Chief of Staff of the Jakarta Military Command.(mas)