Public Works Minister on Setkab Podcast: Gov’t Works Hard to Catch Up in Infrastructure
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono in the Podkabs ep. 2.
A firm infrastructure foundation is the capital to increase competitiveness and to realize advanced Indonesia, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono has said.
“We have to work harder with more enthusiasm and optimism to realize an advanced nation with a better basis for infrastructure development,” Basuki said in podcast of the Cabinet Secretariat (Podkabs) ep. 2 which is uploaded on Cabinet Secretariat’s official Spotify and YouTube channel on Friday (03/18).
According to the Minister, Indonesia’s infrastructure is still lagging behind compared to neighboring countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand, thus it impacted on high logistics costs which can hinder Indonesia from competing with other countries. “It seems that a lot (of infrastructure development) has been done, but it is not enough yet to compete,” he asserted.
The Government, Basuki added, is currently carrying out infrastructure development evenly and gradually throughout the country and is trying to improve the quality in accordance with President Joko Widodo’s vision, namely a “green economy, green infrastructure” that must pay attention to the environment.
Citing data from the Ministry, of the total budget ceiling of Rp152.1 trillion in 2021, 94.4 percent or Rp143.5 trillion has been used effectively for infrastructure development.
The use of the budget, among others, is allocated for water resources sector by constructing 48 dams. A total of 13 dams have been completed and inaugurated while the rest are still under construction. The construction was also followed by the construction of irrigation area and improvement of irrigation networks near the dams.
While in roads and bridges sectors, the budget has been used to for, among others, the construction of 30,136 meters of bridges, 122.85 kilometers of toll roads, 710 kilometers of new national roads, and 2,321 meters of flyovers/underpasses.
As for housing and residence sector, the budget has been absorbed in the construction of 2,065 liters/second Water Supply Development System (SPAM), 8 development areas of Integrated Border Post (PLBN), as well as 1,566 units of construction and improvement of sports education and market facilities and infrastructure. The budget has also been used to develop 3,311 special housing units, 127,091 self-help housing units, 7,024 units (194 towers) flats, and 25,765 housing infrastructure, facilities and utilities (PSU) units.
For the record, Podkabs is the official podcast of the Cabinet Secretariat containing talks and discussions on various topics, ranging from Government policies or current issues circulating in the community today in a light and relaxed way. (DND/TGH/FID/MAY/UN) (GWH/HD/LW)
