Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono has promised to humanely relocate residents from densely populated villages near riverbanks and help them adapt to "vertical housing", in a bid to mitigate flooding in the city.
Agus said he realized that residents who would be relocated needed an adaption process to living in low-cost rental apartments (rusunawa).
"We will educate and help them adapt to the vertical housing concept. We will communicate the program with the residents from the beginning of the process," Agus told reporters at Tegal Parang, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Many evictees relocated to rusunawa have complained of lower income and higher expenses.
The eldest son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he would provide social workers to explain to the residents what life would be like living in the apartments.
With the proper communication and preparation, the residents would not find any aspect of the relocation program surprising, he said.
Previously, Agus said he wanted to construct 300,000 apartment units in 700 towers. The apartments would be integrated with social, public, and health facilities so that residents would find it convenient living there, he said. (evi)