Govt Cooperates With Seven Companies To Improve Residential

Jakarta, Dec 17 (ANTARA) - Jakarta`s Provincial Government has stated it will cooperate with seven companies to implement a program that will raise the standard of living in residential areas, particularly in the slum areas of the capital city. "This partnership is a commitment between the local government and a number of companies to improve the welfare of Jakarta residents by improving the area in which they live," Head of Housing and Local Government Building Novizal said at Jakarta City Hall here on Monday. He noted the seven companies involved in the residential-improvement program are PT Jasindo, PT Don Media Indonesia, PT Bank DKI, PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, PT Jakarta Propertindo, PD Pembangunan Sarana Jaya and PT Jakarta Industrial Estate Pulogadung (JIEP). According to Novizal, the Jakarta residential-improvement program will be implemented through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of each company on an ongoing basis. "The concrete [foundation] of this program comprises the construction of public infrastructure in residential areas, the development of a social-interaction space, repairs to uninhabitable housing, the improvement of MCK (communal bathing, washing and toilet facilities), and the improvement of other supporting facilities," he explained. He added that some other companies, such as PT Astra International Tbk, PT Jakarta Tourisindo and PD Pasar Jaya, will also participate in the program. "We hope there will be more companies that want to participate in solving the wide range of problems in Jakarta, including this matter of residential restructuring," he noted. Novizal added that the kampong-improvement project, popularly known as "Proyek MHT," has been in progress since 1969 in the capital city of Jakarta. In the past, the project focused on the development of infrastructure that was needed at the time, such as the construction of roads, junctions, health facilities and other public facilities.