Transportation firms to get Rp 52.52b loan

JAKARTA (JP): City-owned Bank DKI agreed on Thursday to apportion loans worth Rp 52.52 billion (US$7 million) to four transportation cooperatives and eight transportation companies in the capital next week.

Aip Syaifuddin, head of the Jakarta chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners, said the 12 cooperatives and companies had already met the requirements for the loan disbursement.

The Rp 52.52 billion is part of Rp 56.3 billion in loans to be disbursed to 15 transportation companies and cooperatives in the Jakarta area to help offset the skyrocketing prices of spare parts.

Three other firms -- AJA Putera, Steady Safe and transportation cooperative ARH -- have not yet fulfilled the requirements set by the central bank to become eligible to receive their Rp 3.8 billion loans, Aip said.

The Rp 56.3 billion loans are part of the total Rp 94.1 billion the government has pledged to disburse in 15 cities throughout the country. The loans, which bear an annual interest rate of 6 percent, will mature in one year.

The 12 cooperatives and companies which have already qualified for the loans include Mayasari Bakti, Pahala Kencana, Himpurna, Hiba Utama, Giri Indah Andalan, Bianglala, Ikawali Pusaka Jaya, Kopami Jaya, Koantas Bima, Kopaja and Metromini.

"Mayasari Bakti will receive the largest loan at Rp 21.4 billion, followed by Metromini's Rp 14.5 billion, Kopaja's Rp 7 billion and Bianglala's Rp 2.75 billion," Aip said.

Sunarto of Kopaja criticized the loan's repayment period, saying "the time given to us to repay the loan is too short".

A.S. Simbolon of Koantas Bima said that he appreciated the Rp 732 million loan his company received.

"The money is enough for the maintenance of only 112 buses, but it will be divided among the 150 buses owned by Koantas Bima," Simbolon said. (ylt)