RI NEEDS 6 MILLION MORE HOUSES : MINISTER

Jakarta, June 6 (ANTARA) - Indonesia needs at least 6 million more houses, and the figure could be higher if the people relied only on the government in meeting their need for housing, Housing Minister M Yusuf Asyari said. "Housing developers should not expect funds merely from the State and regional budgets. We must involve all parties, including the private sector to meet the people's demand for housing," the minister said here on Thursday. The housing ministry had so far called for the implementation of what it had dubbed the "136 Program", namely construction of one luxurious house must be accompanied by construction of three medium-cost houses and six low-cost houses. If the 136 Program was implemented, the country would have enough houses, he said. Speaking on the occasion of Environment Day , the minister said the government had also instructed developers that every newly-built house must have at least one tree. "This program is our contribution to the environment and to make Indonesia green," the minister said. The builders of settlement units must also pay attention to environmental and health factors, he said.