Welcoming Heroes' Day, City Government Waives United Nations Fines For Surabaya Residents

ILLUSTRATION / Surabaya City Government Building (DOK. City Government of Surabaya via Antara)

SURABAYA - In order to welcome Heroes' Day in November 2020, the Surabaya City Government has exempted or eliminated land and building tax (PBB) fines for the community.

The exemption of fines is contained in Mayor Regulation (Perwali) Number 55 of 2020, concerning the Abolition of Administrative Sanctions for Urban Land and Building Tax Fines.

Acting Head of the Regional Financial and Tax Management Agency (BPKPD), Rachmad Basari, said the fine exemption was valid for a month, starting from November 1-30, 2020. Based on the data he had, the fines were in arrears from 1994-2020.

"So, there are fines that have not been paid since 1994, so this is an opportunity to pay them, because the fines have been written off or released," said Rachmad, in Surabaya, Monday, November 9.

Rachmad said that the Surabaya City Government had repeatedly waived the fine. One of them is during the commemoration of the Anniversary of the City of Surabaya (HJKS) and this includes the commemoration of Heroes' Day.

"Moreover, this is in the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we continue this program," he said.

According to Basari, this program is important to continue because at the time of this pandemic, all sectors were also affected. From there, the Surabaya City Government provides a stimulant in an effort to help the community in the form of exempting UN fines. "This condition occurs in almost all countries. Of course no one can predict the occurrence of this global outbreak. So, we continue to do this program to help citizens," he said.

Not only that, to enforce the exemption of UN fines, there are several rules that must be considered. One of these rules is to impose release at certain moments, including the commemoration or celebration of certain days.

"Because the rules are allowed at certain moments, finally that is one of the references. Moreover, we return the money from the community to the community in the form of programs or developments," he said.

Because of that, Basari hopes that this UN fine-waiver program can be utilized properly by the citizens of Surabaya. Because, if the program period ends on November 30, then on December 1, 2020, the fine must still be paid according to the original regulations.

"Come on, residents of Surabaya, make the best use of the exemption of this UN fine. There are still a few weeks to come until the end of this month, so let's take care of the UN immediately," he concluded.