Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing or Ministry of PUPR commits to realizing the reliable infrastructure development in Papua and West Papua. It aims to reduce poverty, lower cost indexes and distribute infrastructure development fairly throughout Indonesia.
To support this, the Ministry of PUPR is taking pioneering steps towards more integrated, more accurate, more focused and synergistic infrastructure development with ministries and municipalities.
In FY 2021, the budget allocation for PUPR infrastructure development for Papua Province is IDR6.19 trillion for Water Resources (SDA) IDR732.87 billion, roads and bridges IDR4.49 trillion, settlements IDR683.03 billion and housing IDR288. 35 billion.
Based on current data, the physical progress of infrastructure development in Papua FY 2021 is 37.95% and financial is 41.06 percent.
Meanwhile, in West Papua Province, IDR3.75 trillion was allocated, which was used for the natural resources sector, IDR543.27 billion, roads and bridges of IDR2.66 trillion, IDR312.23 billion for settlements and IDR228.83 billion for housing.
Based on current data, the physical progress of infrastructure development in West Papua for the 2021 FY is 44.09 percent and financial progress is 42.9 percent.
Improving the Welfare of the Papuan People by Opening Territories
One way to improve the well-being of the Papua people is to open up remote areas and improve land and multimodal access and connectivity, including the construction of a 3462 km long Transpapua road.
The total length of the road is currently 3,446 km, of which 1,733 km is asphalt, 1,712 km is unpaved road, and 16 km is unpaved road. In
2021, Papua’s Transpapua Road was completed at 139 km and West Papua at 120 km, including new construction, road openings and structural / surface improvements.
The Ministry of PUPR has also completed the construction of a 1,098 km border road in Papua, of which 931 km is covered by 756 km of asphalt.
In 2021, a 34 km long Border Road in Papua is being worked on, including new construction, road opening and structural/pavement improvement.
Building Posts Across Borders
In the border area, the Ministry of PUPR is constructing the Yetetkun CrossBorder Post (PLBN) with 8% progress and the Sota PLBN completed in 2020, including market facilities, with a goal of completion in April 2022.
In addition, the Ministry of PUPR has built 179 schools, one PTN and eight sports facilities in Papua to support human resource development. In addition, the Ministry of PUPR also offers construction service training courses involving local partners in Papua and West Papua.
To increase local economic growth, the Ministry of PUPR has completed the rehabilitation/reconstruction of Wouma Market in Wamena in 2020 with a budget of IDR2.1 billion and the rehabilitation/reconstruction of 403 shophouses in Wamena after social conflict with a budget of 138.6 billion.
Ministry of PUPR Conducts Development Auction in West Papua
Furthermore, the Ministry of PUPR is conducting an auction for the construction of the Thumburuni Market in Fakfak, West Papua with a plan to start construction in early August 2021.
One of Minister of PUPR’s expert staffs for Technology, Innovation and Environment as well as Spokesperson for the Ministry of PUPR Endra S. Atmawidjaja said the Directorate General of Reconciliation will undertake the task of establishing Papua’s Creative Development Center or Youth Center in Jayapura, Papua.
This is done to give excellent, creative and progressive Papuan sons and daughters more work space. Construction work on the auction is currently underway and physical construction is scheduled to begin on August 31, 2021.
Endra added that President Jokowi is paying great attention to the Papua Youth Creative Hub that can be realized immediately for the progress of Papua and West Papua.
Implementation of XX PON in Papua Proves Development in Papua
The implementation of the XX National Sports Week (PON) in Papua shows that infrastructure development in the area is not inferior to other regions in Indonesia. John Wempi Wetipo, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), said that PON XX shows the readiness of infrastructure in Papua.
As is known, in addition to building seven sports venues used for XX PON in Papua, the Ministry of PUPR has also built various other infrastructures, especially for connectivity that facilitates accessibility and mobility in Papua. Meanwhile, the seven sports venues built by the Ministry of PUPR are:
1. the Aquatic arena and Istora Papua Bangkit in Harapan Village, East Sentani District;
2. Cricket arena and Hockey Field (Indoor and Outdoor) in Doyo Baru Village, Waibu District; the roller skating arena in the Waena Campground area;
3. Rowing arena over Youtefa Bay; and the Archery Arena in Harapan Village, East Sentani District.
Then, the PUPR Ministry also completed the construction of supporting infrastructure and infrastructure, namely six flats for athletes’ homestays in Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency, and Merauke Regency. With these proofs, it appears that the government is serious in accelerating the development especially in Papua and West Papua.
