PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The collaborative program for renovating uninhabitable houses (rutilahu) in West Java has officially begun. West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi together with the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait and the Tzu Chi Buddha Foundation launched the renovation of 500 houses through the "Bebenah Kampung" program, Saturday (3/5/2025), on Jalan Pagarsih, Bandung City.

After the event, KDM, the governor's nickname, emphasized that poverty alleviation must focus on three main aspects: home ownership, health insurance, and access to free education.

"If residents already have a house, their health is guaranteed, and their children can go to school for free, then the problem of poverty is solved. Food needs can be met independently," he said.

This program is a model of collaboration between the central government, provinces, districts/cities, and the private sector. The West Java Provincial Government will focus on the arrangement of slum areas, while the construction of houses in units is carried out by the district/city government, the Ministry of PKP, and partners such as the Tzu Chi Buddha Foundation.

"We are targeting that in the next three years there will be no more uninhabitable houses in West Java. This year alone, we are committed to providing electricity to all residents' homes," KDM emphasized.

KDM also emphasized the importance of land legality to avoid evictions due to infrastructure projects. He said certified houses for the poor must be protected from buying and selling or pawning practices.

As a form of concrete support, the West Java Provincial Government is providing rental assistance of IDR 3 million per family during the three-month renovation period.

"Starting today, we are distributing Rp3 million in aid per family. We can even pay it directly to the owner of the rented house so that it is not misused," he explained.

After Bandung, the program will continue to Bogor Regency and Depok City which also have high poverty rates based on population.

"Depok borders directly with Jakarta, and the mayor is very concerned about the issue of poverty. We will move together," said KDM.

Meanwhile, Minister of PKP Maruarar Sirait called this program a real manifestation of the implementation of the fifth principle of Pancasila, social justice for all Indonesian people. He appreciated the spirit of mutual cooperation between the government and the private sector.

"This is not just a house renovation, this is a real form of concern. Without using state funds, 500 houses were renovated. The governor came down directly, the mayor was active, and entrepreneurs were involved without further ado," said Maruarar.

KDM added, the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation through its CSR program is targeting the renovation of 2,000 houses in Jakarta, West Java, Banten, and Central Java. The city of Bandung is the starting point for this movement.

Also attending the event were the Mayor of Bandung Muhammad Farhan, the Regional Secretary of West Java Province Herman Suryatman, the Regional Secretary of Bandung City Iskandar Zulkarnain, the General Secretary of the Tzu Chi Buddha Foundation Hong Tjhin, and the General Secretary of the Tzu Chi Medika Indonesia Buddha Foundation Pui Sudarto.