Minister of Public Works and Public Housing M. Basuki Hadimuldjono – merdeka.com
Jayapura, Jubi – Minister of Public Works and Public Housing M. Basuki Hadimuldjono said the primary issue that needs to be solved in Papua Island is to cut the high cost, in particular in the Central Highlands.
The high price of basic goods in the Central Highlands such as cement that sell for Rp 2 million per sack has hampered development access to local communities in remote areas.
In order reduce prices, Basuki said the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing have three plans: accelerating the availability of basic regional infrastructure, bringing the production centers on agriculture, forestry and mining downstream base, and formulating affirmative regulation on infrastructure development in Papua.
In order to fulfill its commitment, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing allocates Rp 9.5 trillion from National Budget and 3.9 trillion from Special Allocation Budget for Papua and West Papua within 2015 Annual Budget.
“It is allocated for roads and bridges, drinking water, sanitation, irrigation and public settlements,” the minister stated in the ministry’s press conference on Thursday (23/7/2015).
Meanwhile for second scenario namely the ministry’s infrastructure development strategy is aimed to support the food production and husbandry centers as well as industrial and tourism center areas. “It is according to regional design of Papua Island that has been designed in National Medium Planning 2015-2019,” he said.
And for third scenario, the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing formulate regulation on multi-years contract budget to support the acceleration of Trans-Papua development.
Moreover, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing would continue to provide space for native Papuan entrepreneurs to participate in projects implementation according to President Regulation No. 84/2012 about Special Goods and Services Procurement in Papua and West Papua Region. “It is a commitment to empower the indigenous Papuans,” Haidmuldjono said.
Further the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing expects these three scenarios would able to cut the price and mobilize the Papua regional economic as well as a symbol of State’s existence in the remote areas in Indonesia. (*/rom)
