President Urges Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to Dredge Rivers

President Jokowi observes floating net cages at Cikidang Fish Landing Port, Babakan Village, Pangandaran Regency, West Java, Tuesday (24/4).(Photo: PR/Oji)

Prior to inauguration of Floating Net Cages (KJA) at Cikidang Fish Landing Port (PPI), Babakan Village, Pangandaran Regency, West Java, Tuesday (24/4), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took time to have a dialogue with fishermen who attended the event.

The first question asked by the President to the fishermen is about their request to dredge rivers in Pangandaran area as mentioned by the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti in her remarks.

One fisherman from Village Unit Cooperative (KUD) Minapari, Jamil, said that the rivers needed to be dredged so that mud sediment will not flounder their fishing boats when entering or leaving the port. He also expressed his hope that the dredging can be started as soon as possible.

President Jokowi then urged Minister of Public Works and Public Housing to start the project no later than 2 months. This work cannot be started immediately because the Ministry needs to conduct a procurement process first.

The fisherman also told President Jokowi about port expansion. “If the port is expanded, our boats still can dock at the port when water recedes,” he added.

In terms of port expansion, President Jokowi said that the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries will manage this issue.

Furthermore, the President told Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to complete the fish landing port project in Pangandaran. “After finishing fish landing port project, maybe we can build fisheries research center and fisheries polytechnic college here,” the President said.

According to the President, it is very important to develop fisheries and marine sector. “We must make a breakthrough, a giant leap for this sector, so that fishermen can be really prosperous,” he continued.

On that occasion, Nanang Junaidi from KUD Minapari, Panagiri, said that the estuary of the river is too close to the river. So, when a boat flips upside down and drifted to the port, the boat is broken. Therefore, he conveyed his request to President Jokowi to establish a boat lane.

In response to the request, the President asked Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries to cooperate with Ministry of Public Works and Housing or Ministry of Transportation to handle this issue.

Also attending the event were Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Governor of West Java Ahmad Heryawan, and Regent of Pangandaran Jeje Wiradinata. (FID / OJI / EN) (STU/MMB/Naster)