Achmad Faisal |Master’s Degree of Law Student
“From the ADIK and ADEM policies, around 600 Papuan sons and daughters have attended the best schools,” (Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, Deputy V of the Presidential Staff Office)
SINCE being elected be the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo has prioritized development in Papua both in the infrastructure and Human Resources (HR) fields. Papua’s geographic location at the eastern tip of the Indonesian archipelago is the main reason for this development commitment. The goal is that Papua is not neglected and the Papuan people can enjoy the same development as other provinces in the western region.
In the first term of President Jokowi’s government, the people of Papua felt the massive impact of infrastructure development. For example, the construction of the Trans Papua Road with a length of 4,330.07 kilometers. The road, which was inaugurated in 2018, connects the provinces of West Papua and Papua Province and stretches from the city of Sorong in West Papua Province to Merauke in Papua Province.
The aim of building the Trans Papua road is to improve the economy of the Papuan people, reduce income disparities, and reduce high prices in each region.
The next infrastructure development is the Hamadi-Holtekam Long Bridge, or currently known as the Youtefa Bridge. This bridge is said to be the first bridge in Indonesia designed for tourist purposes. The existence of the Holtekam bridge makes Jayapura a gateway that is directly adjacent to neighboring Papua New Guinea. The bridge, which was inaugurated in July 2019, makes it easier for people who want to go to the Koya or Arso area which is the location for industrial development in the future.
Electricity Infrastructure in Papua and West Papua is another example of the success of Papuas development in the hands of President Jokowi. In October 2016, President Joko Widodo inaugurated six electrical infrastructures, namely the 2×10 MW Orya Genyem Hydro Power Plant (PLTA), the 2×1 25 MW Prafi Mini Hydro Power Plant, the 70 kilovolts Genyem-Waena-Jayapura High Voltage Air Line along 174.6 kilo meter circuit.
The Jokowi administration has also succeeded in building a 70 kilo Volt Holtekamp-Jayapura High Voltage Air Line (SUTT) along a 43.4 kilometer circuit, a 20 Megavolt Ampere Waena-Sentani Substation and a 20 Megavolt Ampere Jayapura Substation. With this electricity infrastructure, Papua which was once dark has now become bright.
Still in President Jokowi’s first term, Sentani Airport was reformed from what was originally a class I airport turning into an international airport. International class facilities can be found at Sentani Airport, which is located 40 km west of Jayapura city center.
Another example of Papua’s infrastructure development during the first term of President Jokowi’s administration is the construction of the Indonesia – Papua New Guinea Border Road. One of the border roads being worked on is Jalan Oksibil-Towe Hitam-Ubrup-Jayapura, which stretches 5.52 km. The construction work starts from KM 15.5 to KM 21.2 in Bintang Mountains District.
Head of the Regional Infrastructure Development Agency (BPIW) of the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Hadi Sucahyono stated that development in Papua in 2016 to 2019 has increased sharply. This is evidenced by the disbursed budget. In 2019, the development budget reaches Rp. 6 trillion for Papua and in West Papua more than Rp. 3 trillion. The total development budget is around Rp. 9 trillion.
In the second term, President Jokowi’s administration made the education and health sectors a top priority in Papua. The Higher Education Affirmation Program (ADIK) and Secondary Education Affirmations (ADEM) are part of government policies to improve human resources in Papua.
Deputy V Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Jaleswari Pramodhawardani said, from the ADIK and ADEM policies, around 600 Papuan sons and daughters were educated in the best schools. The government is also committed to continuing to increase the number of educators in Papua so that education improvement can continue.
The seriousness of the government in developing Papua is by continuing to finance special autonomy or Papuan autonomy. This is because about 64 percent of the Papua Regional Expenditure Budget (APBD) portfolio comes from the allocation of Special Autonomy funds. If Special Autonomy does not continue, development in Papua will be hampered.
The Papua and West Papua Special Autonomy Budget in the 2021 Draft State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN 2021) is set at IDR 7.8 trillion. This figure is an increase from the 2020 Revised State Budget, which is IDR 7.6 trillion. Still focused on improving Papuan human resources, Special Autonomy funds are budgeted for education and health in Papua.
All of these things are proof of the hard work of President Jokowi’s administration in boosting progress in Papua and West Papua. The government does not present nonsense about Papua development but facts. ()
