Acting Governor Affirms Commitment to Curb Floods and Pollution During Plenary Meeting

Jakarta Acting Governor, Heru Budi Hartono, emphasized his commitment to dealing with flooding and pollution during the plenary meeting in delivering answers to the general views of the Jakarta DPRD faction regarding the policy direction in the 2023 Draft City Budget (RAPBD) Amendment.

We're committed to continuing efforts to deal with flooding, traffic jams, rubbish, air pollution, and handling unemployment

According to him, the Jakarta administration was committed to continuing the strategic policies in the 2023 Draft APBD Amendment, such as dealing with floods, waste, traffic jams, pollution, and handling unemployment.

He explained the preparation of the 2023 Draft APBD Amendment is a continuation of the joint agreement between the executive and the legislative regarding the Changes in Budget Policy and 2023 Budget Priorities and Ceiling (KUA-PPAS). Therefore, good cooperation between the executive and legislative was needed, thus the policies implemented could benefit society.

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"We're committed to continuing efforts to deal with flooding, traffic jams, rubbish, air pollution, and handling unemployment in the 2023 APBD Amendments," he expressed, at Jakarta DPRD Building, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (9/13).

In terms of flood management, Jakarta is committed to handling various matters following the policies that have been prepared in the 2023-2026 Regional Development Plan, namely the target to build and/or revitalize 16 rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and reservoirs (SDEW) in stages in 2023. Including conducting a maintenance program for flood control infrastructure and facilities, as well as developing a flood monitoring system.

Further, it is also carrying out intensive coordination with the Central Government and synchronizing programs, including synchronizing priority locations for land acquisition to accelerate construction work by the PUPR Ministry. Then is increasing river capacity, which is focused on the 4.3-kilometer Ciliwung River and building river infrastructure in several priority locations, such as Baru Timur River, Sunter River, and Pesanggrahan River. Including constructing coastal protection embankments in Ancol Barat, Muara Angke, and Blencong River areas to mitigate the risk of flooding due to tidal waves, as well as increasing the water storage capacity and catchment of river runoff.

"The administration is synergizing with buffer regional governments to carry out flood management efforts in Jakarta, under the Home Ministry's coordination," he explained.

Related to congestion management, the city would continue to improve coordination with the Central Government in integrating transportation modes. It was confirmed by efforts to improve services by adding bus fleets and routes to reduce waiting times, especially during peak hours. They also continue to prioritize the rights of pedestrians and cyclists.

To deal with air pollution, his party would remain consistent in implementing emission tests as one of the actions that can reduce air pollution.

"We continue to strive to increase public awareness through outreach, free emissions test weekends, and compliance tests," he continued.

Then in handling waste, his party also keeps controlling the amount of waste sent to the Bantargebang Landfill with ± 7,500 tons every day.

To overcome them, waste processing facilities are needed that can be built quickly and effectively and can process waste in large capacities, but do not burden regional finances, both during construction and operation.

"The executive must build a waste processing facility into Refuse Derived-Fuel (RDF) that meets these criteria. Currently, the RDF facility has just been built at the Bantargebang Landfill and hopefully, it can be built at other locations," he uttered.

Regarding handling unemployment, his party had made efforts to form an independent workforce, job fairs and bazaars, vocational work skills training, as well as developing a job market information system.

"Hopefully my explanation can help facilitate further discussions, thus this draft bylaw can be approved and adopted as a bylaw following the schedule that has been determined through the Deliberative Body," he hoped.