City puts billboard owners on alert

Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Billboard owners will face penalties if their billboards are not in compliance with Jakarta safety standards, an official said Friday.

The Jakarta Property Arrangement and Monitoring Agency said it has warned construction companies of possible penalties after a number of billboards toppled in strong winds and rain Wednesday.

Agency head Hari Sasongko said the agency would freeze or revoke construction companies' business licenses should they be found in violation of agency-issued regulations, depending on the level of each breach.

"We may suspend a construction company's business license for one to two years if we determine negligence," he said at City Hall after meeting with Governor Fauzi Bowo and other city officials.

The agency has issued 700 business licenses for construction companies since 2002, 400 of which were extended.

Construction companies buy licenses from the agency to erect outdoor advertisement structures in Jakarta and sell the space to advertising companies.

Hari said the agency might also downgrade the ratings of violating companies if they were found in gross negligence.

The agency, he said, had yet to create a violation classification.

The agency sent a letter to construction companies that have built billboards in the capital, asking they evaluate the condition of each structure, he said.

On Wednesday a billboard fell on a taxi in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, injuring the driver and two passengers, and another fell on top of an internet cafe‚ and telecommunication kiosk in Setiabudi, South Jakarta.

One billboard also fell near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

At least 21 trees across Jakarta were also uprooted by the winds.

Hari said damages and losses incurred by fallen billboards would be the responsibility of the respective construction companies.

The agency will "visually examine the condition" of existing billboards Saturday in all five municipalities and will announce the results next Tuesday, Hari said.

"We will determine if the structures are in good condition or if they are not in accordance with regulations," he said.

The agency, he said, might revise requirements for building billboards if it finds the current structures prone to high winds.

Hari said a billboard must be able to withstand winds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour.

"We may increase the benchmark to between 75 and 100 kilometers per hour," he added.

"We may also require construction companies to replace their single-pole billboards with double-pole billboards."