S Tangerang, Banten (Antara Bali) - The government will continue to push the construction of low-cost houses for low-income people, particularly laborers, according to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
After building a modest flat complex in South Tangerang, affordable houses would be soon built in Depok and Bogor, West Java Province, the Head of State said while inaugurating the groundbreaking of flat construction in Serua Ciputat, South Tangerang, here on Thursday.
"Next week, we will see the construction of 2 thousand houses near Depok station," he stated.
Each 21(meter)-type house would be sold at Rp112 million, which is affordable for blue-collar workers in Bogor and Depok.
"It is very cheap. Non-blue collar workers should refrain from buying them. If it is saleable, I will push for more development. But, if it is not saleable and only the rich could afford them, then it will be stopped," he noted.
Houses are public needs that must be met, he stated.
PT PP, the developer of the South Tangerang flat construction, has planned to build 9 thousand units of flats. Of the total, 6 thousand units will be offered to laborers at a price of Rp293 million per unit, with a down-payment of only one percent and an installment of Rp1.2 million per month.
The government should have had a land bank to enable it to build low-cost houses in the downtown since long time ago, he remarked.
He also reminded the implementation of house constructions for laborers in industrial zones to help cut transportation costs.
He urged developers to complete housing construction projects for workers on time.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, the president was accompanied by Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakhiri, Chief Commissioner of state-owned construction company Pembangunan Perumahaman (PP) Andi Gani Nena Wea, and PP President Director Tumiyana.
The construction of the low-cost apartments is part of the governments program to provide housing at affordable prices for low-income people.(WDY)
