Gov’t to Continuously Build Seaports, Airports to Connect the Country

Seaports map

The Government hopes to connect all regencies and provinces around the country. Therefore, the Government will continuously build seaports and airports in outermost areas in the country.

Thus, People in Aceh could travel to anywhere as well as people in the Eastern Indonesia could travel to Sumatra.

The statement was delivered by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during the inauguration of Wasior Seaport in Teluk Wondama Regency, West Papua, on Tuesday (5/4) afternoon.

Wasior Seaport is a part of sea toll project which will connect all regencies in the country.

However, the Government has only finished one from three routes of the sea toll projects.

“There will be six routes available next year. The ticket will be subsidized so that the people can afford to buy it. It will connect us,” President Jokowi said.

The President also said that beside Wasior Seaport, at least 27 seaports were built at the end of 2015 and at the beginning of 2016.

The Government has also built four seaports, seven new airports, and restored 12 airports.

In addition, the Government has also built 68 seaports around Maluku, Papua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Sulawesi.

“Besides for passenger transports, the construction of seaports also aims to smoothen goods transport,” the President said.

However, President Jokowi reminded that seaports that located in several areas do not automatically lower the prices of goods because it needs other transportation modes to transport goods in which it depends on the existing infrastructures.

The President then described a condition in Papua. Although the goods from any other regions could be available in Merauke, it still needs to transport it by road in order to send people’s needs or logistics to central highlands of Papua Province.

“Since there is no road, the price of fuel reaches Rp 60,000, while cement is priced at Rp 800,000. Hopefully, the road will be available in the region this year,” the President said.

According to the President, road connecting Manokwari, Wendesi, and Wasior is now under construction and only 30 km of the road that has not been completed yet.

“Hopefully, the construction of the road will be finished next year. This is the promise of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, not mine,” the President added.

The President explained that the connectivity among cities, regencies, and inter transportation modes will create similar price of goods everywhere.

”If all is connected, the price of goods will be the same everywhere,” the President said.

On that occasion, the President also asked the people about the price of cement in Teluk Wondama Regency. They answered that the price is Rp 80,000, while the price of fuel is Rp 12,000.

“How come it’s so expensive? If I visited any region, I will check if there is a mistake,” the President said, adding that it is his duty to monitor the condition of the people.

“Once problem arises, it must be solved. Once there is a mistake, it must be fixed. It is the importance of directly observing on the ground,” the President said.

During the inauguration, the President also mentioned electricity shortage.

“Electricity shortage occurs in almost every province in Indonesia,” the President said.

The electricity shortage, the President added, occurs because the Government is late in building power plants.

“Almost every province experiences power outage 3-8 times a day. “I will discuss this matter with the Regent,” the President concluded.

Accompanying the President in the working visit were Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, and Governor of West Papua Province Abraham Octavianus Atururi. (TKP/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)