"Today, we all take part in a cleanup program, working hand in hand under the Jaga Jakarta Bersih movement," Jakarta Deputy Governor Rano Karno remarked while overseeing the initiative in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.
He pointed out that the extensive cleanup efforts involved civil servants, service providers, provincial government staff, soldiers, police officers, and members of the wider public.
According to Karno, the waste-handling program follows a 2026 directive issued by the Jakarta Regional Secretariat. The mandate promotes a better living environment for residents facing dengue fever threats as increased humidity accompanies the shift from the rainy to the dry season.
“That is why we are clearing bushes and rivers while also eliminating standing water immediately,” he said, noting that fumigation is not always effective against mosquito larvae without broader environmental cleanliness.
On that note, the deputy governor reminded the public to pay close attention to objects that could retain water, as these provide breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Furthermore, he noted that the Jakarta government deployed 60 units of heavy equipment and 144 trucks to clean 66 priority locations across the capital in collaboration with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). The PMI contributed to the initiative by providing 5,000 hoes and shovels, 10,000 wheelbarrows, and 3,000 waste sacks, which were distributed across all of Jakarta's administrative cities.
Rano reiterated the importance of building public awareness regarding sustainability to achieve a healthier city.
“A collaborative approach is vital,” he said.
The cleanup follows President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction for a national movement to improve waste management, issued during a recent coordination meeting between central and regional governments.
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Translator: Risky Syukur, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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