The government of Bogor City has set a target to achieve around 73 percent of safely managed sanitation access in 2024. To support the city government achieve this goal, the Office of Public Works and Spatial Planning (Dinas PUPR) of Bogor City allocated Rp779 million from the APBD to implement the 2019 septic tank grant program in six urban villages in the Ciliwung River Basin. Those six urban villages are Sempur, Tanah Sareal, Babakan, Babakan Pasar, Bondongan, and Cibuluh.
The Secretary of Dinas PUPR, Sonny Rijadi, explained that the 2019 septic tank grant is also in line with the Mayor’s program to revitalize the Ciliwung River’s ecosystem.
Through the 2019 septic tank grant, Dinas PUPR has provided 240 fabricated septic tanks for the low-income families, with community members paying for the construction cost. Among those 240 septic tanks, Sempur urban village has received 125 units, Babakan Pasar 30 units, Babakan 30 units, Tanah Sareal 30 units, Bondongan 12 units, and Cibuluh 13 units.
To support the septic tank grant implementation, Dinas PUPR, puskesmas, and USAID IUWASH PLUS promoted the septic tank grant to the community members from March to June 2019. USAID IUWASH PLUS also trained the Dinas PUPR on the potential beneficiaries survey using mWater application on March 26, 2019 to ensure the grant program is on target.
After four months of promotion, a total of 240 households in those six urban villages agreed to install the septic tanks. Yet, of those 240 households, around 50 households from Sempur, Bondongan, Babakan Pasar, and Tanah Sareal urban villages claim to be not able to afford the construction cost in one off payment. This number is likely higher since some other HHs have yet to decide the funding mechanism.
To address this issue, Dinas PUPR, assisted by USAID IUWASH PLUS, discussed the possible alternative funding mechanisms with the city health office, the government of the beneficiary villages, and microfinance institutions (MFIs) from June to July 2019.
From the discussions, three MFIs (Koperasi BAIK, HIK, and BPRS Insan Cita) agreed to issue a loan for the potential beneficiaries who cannot afford to pay the septic tank installation cost in one off payment. Also, the government of Tanah Sareal urban village will allocate Rp60 million from the 2020 village fund to install the septic tanks for 30 low income families—who do not meet financial requirements to receive the micro-credit.
At the end of 2019, 8 households in Sempur urban village used the loan from Koperasi BAIK amounting to Rp1.5 – Rp 2 million to install septic tanks, and repay the loan Rp50,000/week for 6 months to 2 years. In addition, 17 households in Sempur, Babakan Pasar, Babakan, and Bondongan urban villages installed the septic tanks at their own cost. From January to March 2020, an additional 7 households in Babakan urban village also self-financed the septic tank installation.
“I am happy to have the loan from Koperasi BAIK since my family cannot afford the installation costs,” said Royani, the septic tank grant beneficiary in Sempur urban village.
Dinas PUPR also keeps encouraging the potential beneficiaries to install the septic tanks either at their own cost, through MFIs, or another funding mechanism.
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