Remaining Two Years Working In DKI, What Should Anies Have?

Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan (Instagram aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - The term of office of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan leaves two years. Urban planning observer, Nirwono Joga, suggested that in the remaining two years of leadership in DKI, Anies must sort out priority programs starting in 2021.

The priority program in question, according to Nirwono, is a program related to the post-pandemic handling of COVID-19 in Jakarta, namely the arrangement of settlements and the provision of sanitation.

"In the next two years, the development priorities that emerge should be a program to repair or rejuvenate densely populated areas that must comply with the law, as well as improve clean sanitation," said Nirwono in a webinar discussion, Thursday, August 15.

Nirwono said that these two types of programs could fall into the priority category because currently almost all residential areas in Jakarta are red zones, which means they have a high level of COVID-19 transmission.

"If we talk about stopping the spread of COVID-19, this densely populated settlement should be the starting point for structuring the city of Jakarta after this post-pandemic. There it is related to how to repair slum villages and improve clean water sanitation," he said.

Regarding settlement arrangement, Nirwono did not suggest Anies to continue with the DP Rp 0 housing program or the Community House Solution (Samawa) program. Because, this program is considered not running according to target.

Therefore, the solution according to Nirwono is the construction of massive rental flats, in accordance with the DKI Provincial Government's target of building 30 thousand residential units in the Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD).

"The development priority in the next year is to provide a massive construction of flats, rather than the DP 0 rupiah program. I do not see any significant development from this program. Especially if you look at the urgent housing needs," said Nirwono.

As a result of the pandemic, Nirwono predicts that not all of Anies' 23 campaign promises will be fulfilled until his term ends in 2022. Possibly, one of the campaign promises such as developing vocational education has been put aside in order to focus on dealing with the impact of the pandemic.

"Yes, if the program is not very important, I apologize and in the next 2 years it is better to write off it. With a limited budget, we must dare to focus on post-pandemic to a healthier city of Jakarta," he explained.