Gov’t Implements Four Programs to Facilitate Development in Papua, W. Papua Provinces
Youtefa Bridge in Jayapura, Papua Province. (Photo by: Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing Documentation)
In a bid to boost reliable infrastructure development in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, the Government has renewed its commitment to implement four programs.
“This is in accordance with Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2020,” Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said, as quoted from the Ministry’s website, Saturday (3/4).
Those four programs are facilitating equitable development to improve the people’s welfare, providing affirmative supports for human resource improvement of the Papuan, implementing Cash Labor-Intensive Program, and fulfilling basic needs and services with the support of infrastructure from Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing.
“To improve the welfare of the Papuan, we will open isolated areas and improve access and connectivity from land and multimodal modes. To date, we have built 3,534 kilometers of Trans Papua Road, 1,098 kilometers of Papua Border Road, and 1.3 kilometers of Youtefa Bridge,” he said.
Furthermore, to support human resource capacity development, the Ministry conducts human resource training in construction services involving local Papuan and West Papuan as partners. In addition, the Ministry also empowers local entrepreneurs with limited tenders for self-estimated price (HPS) of between Rp1 – 2.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Head of Center, Head of Unit and Personnel Supervisor Officer (PPK) of the internal human resources development of the Ministry’s technical centers in Papua and West Papua have been filled in by local Papuan.
The Cash Labor-Intensive Program aims to distribute income for the Papuan as part of the National Economic Recovery (PEN) due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In 2021, the budget of the program has increased from Rp671 billion to Rp731 billion. This budget will be used to fund 19 activities that will provide employment for 27,967 workers.
On the fourth program, some of the supports from the Ministry include the construction of an Integrated Cross-border Post in Skouw (Jayapura) and Sota (Merauke), infrastucture development to support the implementation of the 20th National Sports Week (PON) and the construction of special houses, provision of clean water, construction of environmental roads, and construction of suspension bridges in Asmat, Mappi, and Mamberamo Raya Regencies.
Overall, in 2021, the Ministry has allocated Rp6.12 trillion for infrastructure development in Papua Province, Rp670 billion for water resources, Rp4.46 trillion for roads and bridges, Rp650 billion for settlement, and Rp330 billion for housing.
Meanwhile, for West Papua Province, the Ministry has allocated Rp3.67 trillion for infrstructure development, Rp600 billion for water resources, Rp2.54 trillion for roads and bridges, Rp320 billion for settlement and Rp200 billion for housing.
The Ministry also expressed hope that with this continuous commitment, it can contribute to providing real solutions and contributions in responding to challenges on the development of the Papuan.
“We will pay attention to governance in its implementation, so that it is right on quality, right on target, and right on administration,” he said. (PR of Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing/UN) (FI/MUR)
