Joko Widodo Continues with Social Housing Plans for Jakarta's Urban Poor
Joko Widodo, who became Governor of Jakarta in 2012 and enjoys much popular support, has high ambitions to turn Jakarta into a better organized city in terms of public transportation, housing and water management. Currently, Indonesia's capital city - which contains about ten million inhabitants - is plagued by continuous traffic jams, annual floods as well as poor and overcrowded housing for the poorer segments of Jakarta's society. Housing which is frequently flooded.
For that reason, the provincial administration will build subsidized low-rise apartment blocks in Petogogan (South Jakarta), funded under the provincial budget. Although its construction will start next month, the bidding process to determine contractors is still in process. Currently, the semi-permanent houses on the rivers banks are overcrowded (causing hygiene issues) and susceptible to flooding in Indonesia's rainy season.
Through this social housing plan the people that already reside in the area, totaling about 900 people, will be able to live in better conditions. The residents, gave permission for this plan first. Supporting infrastructure, to integrate the apartment blocks with the surrounding area, will also be improved (including a good drainage system to avoid future flooding).
Last week, a similar program was launched in Tanah Tinggi (Central Jakarta), where 85 housing units will be constructed within the time-span of three months.