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eeking an economic advantage from the presence of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in its jurisdiction, the Tangerang municipality administration requested the airport operator to empower poor residents living in the compound’s vicinity.

Tangerang Mayor Wahidin Halim said that the residents of Neglasari and Benda districts — where the airport is located — are the poorest among the 11 districts across the municipality.

“I hope in the future the airport operator can help empower the residents so they can improve their welfare,” he said on Thursday.

He acknowledged that PT Angkasa Pura II as the airport operator had disbursed funds under the latter’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, but felt that the lack of coordination with the administration in its distribution might have caused it to miss the targeted recipients.

Tangerang City Council Speaker Herry Rumawatine said separately on Thursday that the presence of the airport was expected to bring economic benefits to the locals.

None of Angkasa Pura II executives were available for comment in response to the mayor’s request as they were having a meeting when The Jakarta Post contacted them. “I am attending a meeting, please call me again later,” Soekarno-Hatta airport senior executive manager Sudaryanto told the Post.

However, a staff member at the state-owned company’s inter-institution relations department said that they regularly distributed funds to locals through CSR programs, namely programs that aimed to provide business partner guidance assistance and environmental guidance assistance.

“We have built houses of worship and other public facilities as well. We realize that we should have better coordination with the administration in the programs so that there would be no complaints,” said the staff member, who refused to be named.