The Subsidized Housing Program Must Be Ensured That It Is Habitable

Illustration: The atmosphere of subsidized housing in Bogor, West Java/ Antara

JAKARTA - Member of the House of Representatives Commission V, Toriq Hidayat, stated that the subsidized housing development program by developers must be ensured to produce housing products that are livable for the community.

Toriq said that behind the large increase in the housing budget for Low-Income Communities (MBR), it turned out that the facts on the ground kept a number of problems.

"For example, subsidized houses that have been built, but are not suitable for occupancy," said Toriq Hidayat in a written statement in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Wednesday, August 11.

He stated that the increase in the quota for subsidized mortgages must be followed by supervision of banks and developers.

As is known, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) provided an additional quota of subsidized Home Ownership Credit (KPR) with the Housing Financing Liquidity Facility (FLPP) scheme to PT Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) Tbk as many as 18,500 units in the third quarter of 2021.

"The Ministry of PUPR must supervise banks and developers so that every subsidized house offered and or built for MBR, must meet the technical requirements of the building, namely the requirements for occupancy eligibility which include safety, health, comfort and convenience," said Toriq.

Toriq also regretted when there were some unscrupulous developers who refused the request for the application of a Function-worthy Certificate (SLF).

The reason, he continued, is that the subsidized house is categorized as a simple house so there is no need to use SLF, but the problem is who has to guarantee the quality of the house so that it is livable.

"Therefore, I ask the PUPR Ministry to remind the appointed banks to only choose developers who are serious about building subsidized houses and have great attention to housing programs for low-income people," said Toriq. 3,500 units.

Until the end of July 2021, Bank BTN had distributed 76,381 FLPP KPR units, of which BTN Syariah managed to distribute 14,202 units of FLPP financing. Meanwhile, until the end of 2021, the potential for subsidized mortgage distribution could reach 64,654 units.

Previously, the Director General of Public Works and Housing Infrastructure Financing of the PUPR Ministry, Eko D Heripoerwanto, reminded developers of subsidized housing to ensure quality products.

"There are still subsidized housing developers who do not comply with the quality of the building by not pocketing the SLF. Even though this certificate is important as the basis for implementing credit contracts," said Eko in Jakarta, Tuesday (15/6).

The government itself provides subsidy facilities in the 2021 fiscal year including FLPP as many as 157,500 units worth Rp. 16.66 trillion, Subsidy for Advances Assistance (SBUM) worth Rp. 630 billion, Savings-Based Housing Financing Assistance (BP2BT) 39,996 units worth Rp. 1.6 trillion, and Tapera from public funds for 25,380 units worth IDR 2.8 trillion.