Martinus Dinata | Papuan Observer (02 Nopember 2021)
The community supports the success of infrastructure development in Papua. With the development of infrastructure in Papua, the welfare of the people will be more easily realized.
Infrastructure development in Papua and West Papua is certainly not without purpose, the development aims to reduce poverty, reduce the index of cost and equitable distribution of infrastructure development throughout Indonesia.
Previously, Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono said that to support this his party would take steps to develop infrastructure in a more integrated and synergized manner with Ministries/Agencies and local governments.
In the 2021 Fiscal Year, the PUPR infrastructure development budget allocation for Papua Province is Rp. 6.19 trillion for the Water Resources (SDA) sector of Rp. 732.87 billion, roads and bridges of Rp. 4.49 trillion, settlements of Rp. 683.03 billion and housing of Rp. 288.35. billion.
One of the ways to improve the welfare of the Papuan people is by opening the isolated area and increasing access and connectivity from land and multimodal, including the construction of the Trans Papua Road with a total length of 3462 km.
Of the total length, currently the road that has been through is 3,446 km, with 1,733 km of asphalt, 1,712 km of unpaved and 16 km of unpaved roads. In 2021, the handling of the Trans Papua Road in Papua, which is 139 km long and West Papua 120 km, includes new construction, road opening and structural/pavement improvement.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of PUPR also has a project to complete the construction of the Border Road in Papua with a total length of 1,098 km, of which 931 km has penetrated with 756 km of asphalt. In 2021 the government through the ministry of PUPR is working on a 34 km border road in Papua including new construction, road opening and structural/pavement improvement.
In border areas, the Ministry of PUPM has built the Yetetkun Cross-Border Post (PLBN) with a progress of 8% with a target of completion in April 2022 and the Sota PLBN which has been completed in 2020, including market facilities.
Furthermore, to support the development of human resource capacity, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing has built 179 schools and has handled religions, 1 PTN, and 8 sports facilities in Papua. In addition, the PUPR Ministry also conducts construction services HR training involving Papuan and West Papuan native partners.
To increase local economic growth, the Ministry of PUPR has completed the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the Wouma Market in Wamena in 2020 with a budget of Rp. 2.1 billion and the rehabilitation/reconstruction of 403 shop houses in Wamena after social conflict with a budget of Rp. 138.6 billion. Not only large scale such as border roads and Trans Papua, the provision of community infrastructure is also channeled through the Cash for Work (PKT/Cash for Work) scheme to encourage rural economic growth.
Basuki said the PKT program was implemented through infrastructure development that involved the community/local residents as actors, especially small-scale infrastructure or simple jobs that did not require technology. The aim is to distribute development funds to villages.
One of the PKT programs in Papua Province is channeled through the Regional Socio-Economic Infrastructure Development (PISEW) by the Directorate General of Human Settlements, the Ministry of PUPR in general, builds production roads and additional boats to make it easier for fishermen and farmers to transport agricultural, plantation and fishery products.
“Infrastructure development in Papua is carried out to improve the welfare of the Papuan people”
According to e-monitoring data on August 6, 2021, at 11.07 WIB, the PISEW Program in Papua in 2021 will be implemented in 20 locations with a workforce of 346 people. Several PISEW programs in Papua province have been completed and have provided benefits to the communities in the Agats District, Asmat District, through the construction of rafters and wooden boat moorings.
The area of Agats District which is dominated by peatlands is considered to make it difficult for residents of several villages in Agats District to reach other districts, especially during the rainy season. The only access for residents is to use a canoe or speed boat with a rental fee that costs a lot of money.
Of course the construction of village roads and boat moorings will have a positive impact on Papuans in carrying out economic activities, the majority of whom are fishermen and farmers.
Ease of access to transportation in Papua is a problem that must receive attention, this ease of access will enable the Papuan people to develop their businesses and improve their level of welfare.
