Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia During the Inauguration of Danu Kerti Dam and Mangrove Area of the Ngurah Rai Forest Park in Sawan District, Buleleng Regency, Bali Province, February 2, 2023

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Om swastiastu.

Honorable ministers, Bali Governor, Buleleng Regent, SOEs President Directors, all of my children, good morning.

The Danu Kerti Dam started its construction in 2018 and today we will shortly inaugurate it. The dam costed Rp820 billion to build. That is a lot of money. And, the holding capacity, it has 5.1 million cubic meters capacity. It is huge. And, the inundation area is approximately 29.8 hectares. This one will irrigate 588 hectares of rice fields. So, this dam will be utilized to irrigate rice fields. Secondly, it serves to reduce floods.

Where are my elementary school children? Raise your hands. Please come forward. What is the use of the dam? Name the function of the dam, just one. Come forward, please. Elementary school, are you an elementary school student? Alright, just one.

What is your name?

Gede Ananda Rizki Pratama (Elementary School Student)
(Inaudible)

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Gede? Gede Ananda. Enough, not your full name. Gede Ananda, enough. Gede Ananda, what grade are you in?

Gede Ananda Rizki Pratama (Elementary School Student)
The fifth grade.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
The fifth grade. What is the function of this dam? Name one only.

Gede Ananda Rizki Pratama (Elementary School Student)
To manage water.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Minister of PUPR (Public Works and Public Housing), is this correct? Please repeat it. What is the function of the dam?

Gede Ananda Rizki Pratama (Elementary School Student)
To manage water.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
In general, it is correct as Mr. Minister has said so. It is correct.

Name other functions of the dam, anyone can answer? Wait a moment. You, yes you, alright. What is the function of the dam, apart from what Gede mentioned earlier?

A Student Representative
To prevent floods.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
To prevent floods. Correct.

What is the function of the dam? One more. A moment please, a Junior High School student can answer. Are you a Junior High School Student?

A Student Representative
Yes.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
What grade are you in?

A Student Representative
The second year of Junior High School.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Alright, the second year of Junior High School. You are big already, Firstly, what is your name?

Kada Agus Subagia (Junior High School Student)
Kada Agus Subagia.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Kada Agus Subagia. What is the answer?

Kada Agus Subagia (Junior High School Student)
The dam serves a function as a water reservoir, to be used for tourism, and to power generators.

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)
Alright, good. Alright, you can go back to your seat. You take the bike with you,

And, I hereby inaugurate Danu Kerti Dam and Mangrove Area of Ngurah Rai Forest Park in Bali province. Thank you.

Om santi santi santi om.

(FI/MMB)