The Indonesian government fully supports the country’s development, including the development in the border areas. It can be seen with the program they are doing, called Pos Lintas Batas Negara Terpadu (PLBN Terpadu) or Integrated Cross-Border Posts, carried by The Ministry of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia.
PLBN Terpadu is a point of entrance and exit for people and commodities utilizing passports and/or cross-border passes into and out of the area of the Republic of Indonesia. It is built in the border areas, small islands, and outermost islands of Indonesia. Th is program aims to enhance economic equity and improve community welfare, particularly in border areas, by accelerating infrastructure development. Papua is included in this program since it borders other countries.
There are several locations of PLBN Terpadu alongside the eastern end of Indonesia.
1. PLBN Terpadu Skouw – The First Cross-Border Post in Papua
It is located in Skouw Village, Muara Tami District, Jayapura City, and was inaugurated by the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, on May 9, 2017. It is built in a core zone of 10.7 hectares and with a building area of 4,761 square meters.
The total funds spent to build this post reached Rp166 billion. The Minister of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia, Basuki Hadimulyono, said that the total spent includes the main buildings, inspection buildings, departures and arrivals, car washes, confiscation warehouses, weighbridges, and pedestrian corridors as well as cross-border gates and monuments.
The building in this post itself has a design with a touch of Papuan culture. The design is based on the traditional Tangfa House structure, the traditional home of the Skouw area’s coastal community. The roof, shaped like a shield, is its most distinguishing feature. That is why this building has become a tourist attraction. Many people come to take pictures at the front of the building that has a writing of “Skouw, Border Post Of The Republic Of Indonesia”. The large and dashing Garuda statue, which is on the opposite side and faces the neighboring country of Papua New Guinea, has also become a popular place to take pictures.
Near the PLBN Terpadu Skouw, there is a modern market and a terminal for public transportation. The people of Vanimo village in Papua New Guinea, frequently visit Skouw market to buy their basic needs and necessities. The distance from Vanimo village to the capital of Papua New Guinea is far, and the price of the necessities in Skouw market is more affordable.
2. PLBN Terpadu Sota – The Eighth Cross-Border Post in Indonesia
This second PLBN Terpadu in Papua is located in Merauke. It was inaugurated on October 3, 2021 by the President of Indonesia. This post is built on 18 hectares with a budget of Rp114.1 billion. In addition, this post is built as a part of the construction of 11 Cross-Border Posts based on Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2019 concerning the Acceleration of Development of 11 Integrated Cross-Border Posts and Supporting Infrastructure in Border Areas.
There are commercial buildings, public and social facilities, staff rooms, religious buildings, a market, pedestrian pathways, parking lots, and other supporting infrastructure at this post, which was created with an integrated concept.
The construction of this post adopts ornaments and local wisdom with the shape and color of Tifa, ant nests, and brown motifs and colors. The construction also strengthens the landmark of the border monument and the 0 Km monument. There is also a large national symbol of Garuda Pancasila, a monument of the Prokmator and the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, Sukarno.
3. PLBN Terpadu Yetetkun – The Cross-Border Post That Is Still in Progress
It is located in Ninati District, Boven Digoel Regency. The Boven Digoel area, about 422 kilometers from Merauke, is historically significant because it was once a place of exile for Indonesian independence fighters such as Mohammad Hatta during the Dutch Colonial period.
PLBN Terpadu Yetetkun is built in 10 hectares with a budget of Rp115.8 billion. It is a part of the government’s commitment to carry out the Nawa Cita mandate initiated by President Joko Widodo five years ago, “Membangun Dari Pinggiran” which means building from the periphery.
The construction of this post is divided into the core zone and sub-core zone. There will be the main PLBN building, checkpoints, gate posts, powerhouse, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), procurement of X-Ray and Thermal Detection equipment, and portals in the core zone. Meanwhile, there will be employee housing and supporting zones in the sub-core zone, such as kiosks (economic centers), landscaping, and other infrastructures, such as waste processing sites and the installation of toilets.
There are fifteen other PLBN Terpadu distributed across Indonesia’s border areas built from 2015 until now. The construction of PLBN Terpadu is a sign of the improvement and willingness of Indonesia to be a better country. Hopefully, PLBN Terpadu will continuously give positive impacts that can help improve the citizens’ public welfare in the border areas, including in Papua, which is one of the most potential provinces of Indonesia.
