Bandung Mayor urges civil servants to carpool amid rising fuel prices

Bandung Mayor M. Farhan has urged civil servants in the city to minimize their use of private vehicles for commuting following a significant increase in non-subsidized fuel prices, including Pertamax.

Farhan suggested that civil servants explore options such as carpooling or "nebeng," a local term for sharing rides, to travel to their offices. This initiative aims to promote operational efficiency and manage the impact of higher fuel costs on employees and the city's overall budget.

"We will force it, at least the city government employees come to the office not with private vehicles," Farhan stated, adding that carpooling would be encouraged if private vehicles are still necessary. He stressed the importance of operational efficiency to ensure that fuel expenses do not become too high.

The mayor acknowledged that the city government has no direct control over fuel prices, which are influenced by global supply and demand dynamics, currency exchange rates, and other market factors. However, he emphasized the collective responsibility to avoid wasteful consumption.

In response to the rising costs, the city administration is also considering budget cuts for operational expenses, including meals, beverages, and official travel. Farhan indicated that these areas would see a "quite significant" reduction to help mitigate the financial impact of the fuel price hikes.