The Government's Reason for Continuing to Build Infrastructure
Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko revealed the reason the government has never stopped building infrastructure in the last four years. The development will continue until next year.
Moeldoko explained that infrastructure development is very beneficial from various aspects, both economic, social, and cultural. From an economic perspective, infrastructure development, land, sea, and air connectivity provide convenience to achieve efficiency, "he explained, at the 4th Year Report of the Jokowi-JK Administration in Jakarta, Monday (10/22/2018).
With efficiency, it will increase the competitiveness of domestic products.
He also told me that so far, many domestic agricultural products have very good quality. However, because there is no distribution infrastructure, the agricultural materials are not sold because they cannot be marketed.
With the development of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, and others, connectivity is getting better so that products in various corners can be marketed to encourage economic growth.
“There are good products but because the goods cannot be taken down because there is no way, they become rotten. So, from an economic point of view, understanding this is very easy," he said. Previously, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) stated that there were no findings related to stalled infrastructure projects during the reign of Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla (JK).
Member IV of the BPK Rizal Djalil said, based on the results of the BPK examination, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) realized infrastructure spending during 2015, 2016, and 2017 of IDR 289.93 trillion.
"No infrastructure is found to be stalled," he said at the BPK Building, Jakarta, Monday (22/10/2018).
Meanwhile, for the infrastructure budget in 2018, the BPK has not yet conducted an inspection. This is because until now the infrastructure activities are still ongoing and the inspection will only be carried out in 2019.
"Regarding 2018, there is no statement because there has been no inspection. The inspection will be after the program is finished. The new report will be submitted in February 2019. It will only be examined in March-June," he said.
According to Rizal, during the current administration, infrastructure projects were carried out on a massive scale. Several projects have also been completed and the benefits have been enjoyed by the community.
"Please look at the border, what used to be in Papua and what is it like now. Then our border with Malaysia in Kalimantan. Then also Timor Leste now. Likewise, infrastructure is related to roads. I emphasize, don't just look at it but also look at it how many tens of thousands of raw water wells have been built for the villagers. This will have an impact on the ease with which our community can obtain clean water in the countryside, "he said.
Rows of Infrastructure that Jokowi has Built Since 2014
In the last six years, the Jokowi administration has built 1,640 toll roads. Meanwhile, the non-toll roads that have been built have reached 4,600 kilometers.
"Our airports have built new ones, 15 new airports and 38 expansions and repairs of old airports. Our ports have built 124 new ports," he said.
For this year alone, Jokowi said, the government has built 22 dams. Jokowi then promised that there would be 65 dams to be completed by 2024.
"I think this is a foundation in the medium and long term that is important for us to tread on the progress of our country," he explained. Largest in Six Years, Infrastructure Budget Reaches IDR 417.4 Trillion in 2021
The Ministry of Finance report shows that the infrastructure budget in 2021 is the largest in the last six years. The amount reached Rp 417.4 trillion. The focus of this year's infrastructure budget will be allocated to the central government as much as Rp. 239.8 trillion and transfers to regions and village funds (TKDD) of Rp. 131.8 trillion. Then, the budget will also be allocated for Rp 45.8 trillion for financing in this sector. Some of the planned achievements in the infrastructure sector this year are the construction of flats and special houses as many as 10,706 units, dams as many as 53 units, roads along 965.4 kilometers, 26.9 kilometers of bridges, 446.56 kilometers of railway lines, and 10 airports/locations. There is also the construction of a natural gas network for households of 120,776 SR and PLTS Rooftop and PLTS Cold Storage of 11.8 MWp. It is noted that the total budget for 2021 increased by 48.4% compared to last year which was only Rp. 281.1 trillion. When compared to 2016, the total budget this year increased by 55.1%, which was Rp. 269.1 trillion. Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo has budgeted IDR 384.8 trillion for infrastructure development in the 2022 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Draft (RAPBN). He said infrastructure development is directed at supporting several strengthening basic services and supporting increased productivity through connectivity and mobility infrastructure. In addition, the budget will be used to provide affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy and food infrastructure, as well as equitable distribution of infrastructure and access to information technology in the country.