Report on AUICK Associate Cities
Surabaya, Indonesia

Reported by Dr. Muhlas Udin, Assistant Secretary, Development Administration, City Government of Surabaya, Indonesia

Background

Situated on Java island, Surabaya is Indonesia’s second largest city. The city has grown as a centre for trade and industry services, and is now focusing its development on sustainability, community based development and the preservation of the environment.

Administration and Revenue

Surabaya is governed by a Mayor, who is supported by a Deputy Mayor and a Secretary who oversees 20 administrative departments. Administration covers 33 districts and 133 sub districts. The city’s revenue for 2004 is US $149,437,800 and expected expenditure is US $149,437,800.

Main Challenges Facing the City

Floods:
Floods are typical during the rainy season in Surabaya as the city is in a low-lying area with some sections below sea-level. Other reasons for flooding include: garbage dumping in the river, growth of settlements around water catchments and lack of storm water canals between agricultural and settlement areas. Traffic jams, financial and economic loss can result from floods.

Solid Waste Management:
The city utilises open dumping, landfill, incinerators and composting; however poor management has led to leachate pollution and bad odours at landfill sites.

Health and Population:
Infectious diseases are a major problem and require an immediate solution. Diseases such as typhoid fever and dysentery are present in the city. HIV/AIDS is also emerging as a new threat and while efforts are being made to control all of these diseases, the results have yet to be seen.

Poverty:
There are 249,000 poor people in Surabaya. Aid programs to alleviate poverty include: a health care fund; education fund; small trade credit and managerial aid; and public utility development.

Water and Environment:
Water supply does not reach everyone. 40% of people use well water, public hydrants and mobile tanks. River water quality is poor; as untreated domestic waste water is discharged into the river.

Education
Education needs to be developed. The main problems are a lack of resources and limited government funding, a low quality of teaching staff and high tuition fees.

Elderly
The health care of the elderly is an emerging issue as the number of aged people is increasing.

Role and Relationship with AUICK

Surabaya has been involved in past trainings and an AUICK delegation has visited Surabaya to evaluate the results of those trainings. We hope that AUICK will continue to conduct trainings, will work collaboratively with Surabaya to plan future trainings, and will assist in annual and 5 year plans. Formalization of the relationship between AUICK and Surabaya is very important for us, and we propose an annual conference be held by AUICK to share information among AACs.

Other Information

In this era of free trade and globalization, Surabaya is continuing its efforts to be competitive on a global level. We are continuing to develop our resources and potential so as to become a service-based city with a secure position as a centre of national and international economic growth.