Santa Market Leads Jakarta’s Animal-Friendly Shift

Jakarta City Council Commission B Member, Francine Widjojo expressed her appreciation for the cat sterilization program and the inauguration of the cat treat station at Santa Market, an initiative spearheaded by PD Pasar Jaya in collaboration with the South Jakarta Food Security, Maritime, and Agriculture Sub-agency (KPKP).

It’s about responsible feeding

She believes this is a major step forward in turning Jakarta into a truly pet-friendly city.

"This is a fantastic initiative by the Jakarta government," she expressed, Monday (7/6).

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To keep the area clean and organized, the market launch included educational signage and stickers, guiding people to use only the provided feeding spots.

This is part of a wider movement; similar feline-friendly initiatives have been running at MRT Jakarta since 2022.

"As of 2025, three cat treat stations are located at the Kebayoran, Velbak, and Kuningan Madya Transjakarta bus stops, with an additional one at the Kebayoran Train Station," she explained.

In March 2026, she also helped spearhead the setup of ten cat treat stations at the Manggala Wanabakti Complex. The project was personally unveiled by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, coinciding with the kickoff of a free cat sterilization program for the Ministry’s resident felines

She envisions a wider rollout of these cat treat stations across the city’s public spots, supporting Jakarta's journey toward becoming a pet-friendly global hub.

"My hope is for more cat treat stations to pop up in our urban spaces, making Jakarta a global city that truly cares for its animals," she remarked.

Expanding these facilities also means boosting public awareness to keep our spaces clean and green.

"It’s about responsible feeding—like using paper bowls and sticking to dry food or kibble to maintain a pleasant environment for everyone," he added.

Francine urged Pasar Jaya to collaborate with the South Jakarta KPKP Sub-agency to implement a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program at Santa Market.

"Feeding stations and sterilization must work together to keep the cat population in check. It’s a vital step in teaching the community how to maintain a balanced and healthy environment for our local animals," she explained.

Currently, a survey is being conducted to identify unsterilized cats at the market. After the mapping is done, these cats will be lined up for the free sterilization program.

"It’s a completely free service from the KPKP Sub-agency, as it’s already covered by their allocated quota," she closed.