K.H Ma’ruf Amin, the Vice President of Indonesia describes seven priority programs in West Papua development. These programs range from improving healthcare to increasing the number of vocational schools for local residents.
He initially stated that he would continue to follow up on integrated coordination team to accelerate welfare development in Papua according to Executive Order No. 20 of 2020.
Ma’ruf himself is the Chairman of the Steering Committee, confirming the real manifestation of the Government’s commitment in accelerating welfare development for the Papua.
“The presence of Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2020 is proof of the Government’s commitment to making efforts to accelerate welfare development in Papua and West Papua Provinces,” said Ma’ruf.
Sectors Included in the 2021-2022 Rapid Development in West Papua
Next, Ma’ruf described what was developed in the seven strategic sectors that became the Rapid Development Program 20212022 for Building the Welfare of the Papua People. First in the field of education through Pinter Pinter in need of the support of Sendera Washi University.
Ma’ruf says the contribution of Cenderawasih University is urgently needed to become a think tank, especially to develop more skilled, talented and talented people in Papua.
Ma’ruf explained that the second is Healthy Papua. This is a solution to the problem of the difficulty of Papuan people’s access to health facilities and services.
These include expanding hospitals in seven common areas, expanding Papua’s infrastructure, strengthening health centers, and accommodating abandoned children, he said. The third point is Papua Mandiri.
This program is a form of excellent product development, including tourist destinations and business development for the people of West Papua.
He said the establishment of Cenderawasih Baysail 2023, integrated tourism, village economic center, millennium peasants, and the development of vocational training centers and vocational schools.
Next, he described the fourth point: Connected Papua. This is an attempt to connect Papua’s lines to facilitate communication and transportation access for Papua people.
Significant projects are airlift, network improvement in East Palapa Ring, a large trans-Papua project to the Economic Center, and the construction of several depots at the Economic Center, he explained.
The fifth program is Bright Papua. He said the government is trying to provide access to electricity in every corner of Papua and is working with relevant stakeholders in the development of new renewable energies.
Ecology-Based Health Facility Development Plan for the Elderly
The Indonesian National Resilience Agency (BKNI) will build health facilities (faskes) and care for the elderly (elderly) based on ecological tourism or medical ecotourism senior living, in three districts in West Papua.
The Presidium of the BKNI RI, R.M. Tri Harsono, in Manokwari, said that the BKNI RI would build health facilities for the elderly in Manokwari, Tambrauw, and Sorong, starting with the payment of a land area of 5 (five) hectares to each landowner in the three regencies.
Harsono said that the program was implemented to strengthen the people’s economy in the local area as well as to strengthen the income of each region.
The aim of this program, said Harsono, is to provide foreign exchange to Indonesia, considering that the elderly abroad (international) have the cost of care, so that through the Indonesian National Examination Board, as an independent state buffer agency, picks up the ball to the regions.
“Ecotourism-based elderly health facilities will be built in 135 sub-districts in 60 regencies/cities from 18 provinces in Indonesia [including] Papua and West Papua. This program does not use the state budget but uses the international elderly budget who will come to Indonesia with a tourist visit for six months,” he explained.
The Program Will Be Managed In A Modern Way And Facilitate Health Services
For six months, international seniors will visit and enjoy the local beauty in Indonesia. So the plan (design) for the construction of this health facility must prioritize local wisdom, culture, and hospitality.
In the future, continued Harsono, this program will be managed in a modern way and facilitate services in the health sector. But especially for the domestic elderly, it will be provided free of charge for those who can’t afford it. Outside of the area, it also stimulates agricultural plasma and plantations to meet the needs of the area.
“So we will also boost the people’s economy, food security, and will also absorb 700 to 1000 workers, both medical and non-medical. We prioritize local workers but must go through a national and international standard training process,” he said.
2020 is the survey and land payment stage, while the construction stage will start in early 2021. “Today we are handing overpayment checks to each of the ulayat rights owners in Manokwari, Sorong, and Tambrauw. Payments will be made simultaneously nationally through partner banks,” said Harsono.
Meanwhile, the BKNI RI Commitment Making Officer (PPK) for the Sorong Raya area, Christian Segidifat, said that this mega project for building elderly health facilities also empowers West Papua construction workers who will be involved as sub-contractors under PT Surya Atap Logam as the implementing contractor.
