The deteriorating air quality within the Jakarta region presents a growing peril to the well-being of its inhabitants. To address this pressing concern, Prasetio Edi Marsudi, the Chairperson of the Jakarta Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), has laid out plans to advocate for incentives aimed at supporting field workers and professionals who are susceptible to the adverse effects of pollutants. then, who are the so-called field workers who will receive incentives?
Those earmarked to benefit from these proposed incentives include Traffic Police (known as Polantas), officials from the Department of Transportation (Dishub), and members of the Public Order Police (Satpol PP), all of whom operate in the field on a daily basis.
Marsudi underscores that these three segments are particularly susceptible to disruptions in their respiratory systems due to their consistent exposure to environmental pollutants.
“While their current health might appear sound, the prolonged exposure to air pollution could eventually lead to health problems. This is the subject of our proposed initiative in the 2024 Regional Budget (APBD),” Marsudi elucidates on a Sunday (August 13, 2023).
Moreover, he emphasizes that the supplementary income provision slated for the 2024 APBD could be channeled to bolster the nutritional intake, vitamin supplementation, and medical requirements of the field personnel.
Marsudi also reveals that up until now, the Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) has been diligently striving to mitigate the escalating levels of air pollution in Jakarta. These efforts have been predicated upon robust communication with adjoining regional authorities and relevant governmental bodies, reflecting their commitment to a concerted approach to addressing the issue.
“We remain poised to evaluate the outcomes and observe the trajectory of the ensuing policy implementations,” Marsudi affirms.
A notable point previously put forward by the Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, emphasizes that conventional vehicles stand as principal contributors to the concerning levels of air pollution in Jakarta.
Consequentially, the Jakarta Provincial Government has issued a resounding call to action, encouraging the populace to opt for public transportation alternatives.
Hartono expounds that the data they have accrued indicates that nearly half of Jakarta’s air pollution emanates from conventional vehicles. Acknowledging the enormity of the task at hand, the Jakarta Provincial Government has candidly expressed their reliance on public participation to effectively reduce the ongoing pollution conundrum.
Further elaborating, Hartono stresses the multifaceted strategies already undertaken by the Jakarta Provincial Government to augment the city’s air quality. A prominent facet of these strategies is the active promotion of transitioning to public transportation modalities, such as trains and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system.
