Workers start removal of 'So Klin' billboards

JAKARTA (JP): Following City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) orders, workers started on Thursday dismantling billboards displaying advertisements for "So Klin" detergent.

Agency head Buyung Atang said he had ordered the two-by-six meter billboards to be pulled within a period of 10 days beginning Thursday unless the company, or its two advertising agencies, could obtain legal permits for the 80 billboards at bus stops in the capital.

The colorful advertisements, depicting three noted entertainers and the detergent soap are placed, for example, at several bus stops on the city's main streets of Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Pemuda, Jl. Pramuka, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan and Jl. Gatot Subroto.

Buyung said advertising agency's PT Prima Jaya and PT Kartika Kurnia had yet to obtain the permits for the installment of the billboards at the sites.

The permits were still being processed by the Outdoor Advertising Review Team (TPTPR) formed by the governor, he said.

The two agencies, he said, proposed to erect 100 billboards in October and November 1999 at bus stops belonging to DLLAJ, which is also a member the TPTPR.

Before the team had issued them with permits, the companies decided in January to install 80 billboards.

"They did pay tax, but not in full," Buyung said.

The tax for billboards is Rp 4,000 per square meter a day.

"So far, they've only paid Rp 430 million in six months for the 80 boards they have already installed," he said.

The two companies could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Buyung also said the two agencies had broken an agreement they had made to renovate the bus stops.

"The agencies were supposed to renovate the bus stops before they installed the boards, but they didn't do so," Buyung said.

Buyung explained that out of around 600 bus stops in Jakarta, 45 percent are either damaged or graffitied. The city administration therefore decided to invite the private sector to help repair them.

Earlier on Tuesday, Governor Sutiyoso announced at his office the dissolution of the TPTPR because its procedures issuing licenses for outdoor advertisements were too complicated.

An advertisement agency, for example, has to go to separate agencies to get different approvals.

Such a procedure, Sutiyoso said, opens up the possibility of corruption.

Outdoor advertisement licenses are now being handled solely by the City Revenue Agency. (09)