DPRD Asks Bogor City Government To Study The Economic Impact Of Otista Revitalization

The process of revitalizing the Otista Bridge, Bogor (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) of Bogor City, West Java asked the local government to review the economic impact arising from the revitalization of the Otista Bridge to traders in a widespread manner, not just around development.

Chairman of Commission IV of the Bogor City DPRD, Akhmad Saeful Bahkri, in a written statement on Saturday, said that the revitalization of the Otista Bridge did not only have an impact on changes in traffic flow. However, it also has an impact on MSME business actors located around the Otista bridge not only near development.

Commission IV of the Bogor City DPRD has also held a working meeting with the Bogor City Cooperatives, SMEs, Trade and Industry Office (Diskopukmdagin), Friday (19/5).

"We want to know whether the relevant OPD has collected data for MSME business actors and how many business actors have been affected and their potential losses are from the construction of the Otista Bridge," said Akhmad Saeful Bahkri.

Akhmad Saeful said that Commission IV of the Bogor City DPRD hoped that the Bogor City Government would not only focus on technical studies. However, the Bogor City Government must also review the economic impact of business actors, not just on Jalan Otista

Economic studies are expected to be a reference in taking strategic steps and plans starting from mapping, relocation and evaluation of the impact of the Otista bridge construction.

"We want to make sure what efforts and steps the Bogor city government has taken. Because, there is an impact of losses received by business actors. Is it by relocating or providing assistance to MSME actors. Do not let business actors, especially MSMEs, go out of business," said the man who is familiarly called Gus M.

Akhmad Saeful said the construction of the Otista Bridge, which is planned to take 7.5 months, certainly not only affects MSME business actors, but the decline in hotel occupancy in Bogor City must be a concern.

"From the submission submitted by the relevant OPD, the economic impact in the first week of business development has decreased by almost 60 percent of turnover. However, along with traffic engineering and other solutions, this number continues to decline," he said.

He also asked the Bogor City Government to immediately take quick and strategic steps and solution to this issue, by reviewing and calculating what was conveyed by the relevant agencies that there is a potential loss impact for business actors in Bogor City.

"We are worried that if this is allowed to affect the Bogor City Regional Budget, which has been supported by taxes on hotels, restaurants and entertainment in Bogor City. We hope that it will not affect and be affected by the Bogor City Budget," he said.

Akhmad Saeful reminded that not only traders on Jalan Otista were affected, but also traders or businesses on Jalan Pajajaran, Jalan Sudirman and other roads, so it must also be studied for the economic impact.

"Therefore, we ask the Bogor City Government to prepare a scenario to maintain economic stability and economic recovery after the pandemic," said Akhmad Saeful.