Our friends at Papua West Media made a video showing what Papuans think of the development in Papua, especially Trans-Papua road.
Benjamin Akemi for example he used to walk through the valley and mountains to reach the school where he teach everyday. He and others locals finally get the benefit from the development in West Papua.
Jakarta – The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) continues the completion of the 1,098 km border road near Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border spanning from Merauke to Jayapura. It is part of the President Jokowi instructions to develop and open access to isolated areas and improve life of the communities.
“The development of the border area is needed by the border community to create new economic growths in the border region,” said PUPR Minister, Basuki Hadimuljono.
One of the border road sections that is currently under construction is the Oksibil-Towe Hitam – Ubrup – Jayapura Road (5.52 km). The construction starts from KM 15.5 to KM 21.2 in Pegunungan Bintang District. The main challenge in border road development in Papua is its natural conditions which are still covered by tropical forests, mountains and extreme weather. Also the availability of construction materials which still is limited in Papua.
“This work is carried out in few stages considering the terrain that makes it hard to access, we have to cross steep mountains and forests which make it difficult for construction workers to mobilize the tools,” said Minister Basuki.
The current stage is carried out by the contractor PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) using state budget amounting Rp 108.5 billion. The construction will take 376 days since the beginning of 2018.
Although it is still a dirt road, this new road provides tangible benefits to the border community in Papua. The travel time between the regional economic center which was originally in the number of weeks by foot, is shorten to days because now the vehicles can cross. If the road conditions gets better, then the travel time will be shortened to hours.
Meanwhile, the 111 km road constructed from Sota – Erambu – Bupul is fully paved. Furthermore, the 38 km Bupul-Muting section and the 195 km Muting-Boven Digoel section also have been paved so vehicles can easily pass. Of the total 1,098 km border road from Merauke – Jayapura, by the end of 2018, 919 km have been connected. (*)
Source:
Public Communication Bureau
Ministry of PUPR
The newly polished Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) integrated border post in Skouw, Papua is now being a new tourist destination as ordered by President Joko Widodo. The building that stands as the border of Indonesia and PNG looks different than ever before. Officially opened on May 2017, it was built and designed with the cultural taste of Skouw.
The twin building outer design, a replication of entangled spouses, symbolizes the value of unity. Other distinguished cultural patterns and symbols are also embellished on every side of the building. Not only Skouw patterns, we can also find gecko patterns as a symbol of people in the border as well as a shield design on it.
Second Stage Construction
Currently, the main zone of Skouw border post includes the building which has been officially launched. Meanwhile, the construction of the second zone has begun and is expected to finish by the end of this year. The second stage construction includes the building of a church, a mosque, a market with 400 stands, a plenary hall, Wisma Indonesia (Indonesian House), and residential area for the staffs, police and military officers. The security fences and sea cliff’s fences would be built consecutively. Once the fences are erected, there would be no opening for illegal routes, eliminating the possibility of illegal border crossers.
“The first stage construction has completed. The second stage has reached 80 percent and to be wrapped up this year. There is two-hectares area for the national development,” Frans Imbiri, the Deputy of Skouw Border Post Area Development, explained in Muara Tami District, Jayapura (24/5).
Tourist Site and School’s Visit Destination
Not only Skouw Integrated Border Post is a symbol of a rapid development in border area, it is hyped as a new tourist site. Looking back to the old days, most border areas are usually crowded by visitors only during the market days. Now, there is no day without visitors coming from all regions, simply to take photos around the border post.
In order to anticipate the increasing numbers of visitors, the building of public toilets is included in the development agenda. Currently, there have been 10 toilets available inside the main building, and the construction for 10 additional toilets outside the building will soon be started.
Administrator of Skouw Integrated Border Post, Yan Z. Numberi said that President Jokowi instructed that this border post should be made as a new tourist destination. Therefore, people from any region can come and see. According to Yan, tourists’ enthusiasm is lived up after the post launching a year ago.
“Before the construction, the area was only used to cross the border. Not many people passing by here. But now thousands of people from all area of Indonesia visit it as a tourist destination,” Yan explained.
Most of the visitors come to the border post to take pictures of several unique and distinguished spots, such as the SKOUW sign in front of the post, the red-white Border Post of Indonesia sign, the front-side of the Garuda statue, and green areas around the post as well as the border gate. Some even asked the military officers to take picture together.
Not only tourists, groups of students often come to witness the new building of Skouw integrated border post. One of the groups visiting the border on the weekend are children from Children Empowerment Center in Skanto District, Keerom Regency. Those kids wearing green uniform walk along the border area to the neutral zone between Indonesia and PNG while listening to the the tour guide.
“We want to show the children the border and the monument. Many children haven’t been here before, thus we want to introduce them to our country’s border,” Yusfita, the tutor explained.
Source: Okezone.com
The development of this mega project in Papua and West papua provinces will give better access within these provinces. Moreover, it will make traveling within Papua and West Papua to Raja Ampat easier and faster. With the distance of 4,325 km, Trans Papua road is already 85 percents completed. It will accommodate access and connectivity between central activities in Papua province and West Papua which includes Raja Ampat. These central activities are; Sorong, Timika, and Jayapura in Papua province, and Manokwari, Raja Ampat and Tanah Merah in West Papua province. Trans Papua road will cover two routes in each provinces of Papua and West Papua.
Papua province’s route: Jayapura-Wamena-Mulia, Jayapura-Sarmi, Jayapura-Hamadi-Holtekamp-Perbatasan Papua Nugini, Merauke-Waropko, Timika-Mapurujaya-Pomako, Nabire-Waghete-Enarotali, dan Serui-Menawi-Subeba.
West Papua province’s route: Manowari-Sorong, Manokwari-Bintuni, Fakfak-Hurimber-Bomberay, dan Sorong-Mega.
However, all of this would soon change for the better. With new infrastructure developments in Papua and Raja Ampat in particular, more people would be able to gain access to Raja Ampat. With cheaper costs and better convenience, pricey and challenging travel to Raja Ampat would soon be a thing of history.
With the new developments, beside improving access in Raja Ampat, it can also boost Raja Ampat’s tourism. With better infrastructures, not only will the tourists gain benefit, it would also give benefits to the local people of Papua. More economic boost, and source of income, as well as the direct benefit of better transportation.
So what are these new developments in tourist infrastructure? Lets see!
With such a long runway for a local airport (1,600 meters), which is the same as in the big cities of Indonesia, it can accommodate large aircrafts. Marinda Airport will be able to provide direct flight to Raja Ampat. No more long and arduous transits to Raja Ampat. Fly directly to Raja Ampat!
With the renovation of Edward Osok airport, foreign tourists will have better experience during their arrival. This can provide better international access for Raja Ampat. This means better gateway to Papua in general, and Raja Ampat in particular.
This water transportation provides fast Water transportation from Sorong, as the nearest place of central activities in Papua, to tourist attractions In Raja Ampat. This boat will take you straight from Sorong to Waisai port in Waigeo island, Raja Ampat. Enjoy the water trip with a wonderful scenery along the way.
With the distance of 757 km, Waigeo ring road will give way better access to 26 coastal villages in East and West Waigeo. This ring road is expected to give better connectivity between the four Islands of Raja Ampat. Raja Ampat itself means Four Kings, referring to the four islands in Raja Ampat, which are Misool, Salavat, Batanta, Waigeo and Kofiau.
The Waigeo Ring Road route will cover Waisai -Warsambin – Lopintol, Lopintol – Wawiyai, Wawiyai -Kabilol, Waisai – Sapokren – Wawiyai – Waisilip – Saleo – Selpele, Kalitoko – Waifoi – Kopadiri – Kabare, Kabilol – Go – Kopadiri, Kabare – Warmandi – Mnir – Puper – Yenbebaki – Urbinasopen – Yenzner -Mumes, also Yenzner – Kalitoko.
The development of this mega project in Papua and West papua provinces will give better access within these provinces. Moreover, it will make traveling within Papua and West Papua to Raja Ampat easier and faster. With the distance of 4,325 km, Trans Papua road is already 85 percents completed. It will accommodate access and connectivity between central activities in Papua province and West Papua which includes Raja Ampat. These central activities are; Sorong, Timika, and Jayapura in Papua province, and Manokwari, Raja Ampat and Tanah Merah in West Papua province. Trans Papua road will cover two routes in each provinces of Papua and West Papua.
Papua province’s route: Jayapura-Wamena-Mulia, Jayapura-Sarmi, Jayapura-Hamadi-Holtekamp-Perbatasan Papua Nugini, Merauke-Waropko, Timika-Mapurujaya-Pomako, Nabire-Waghete-Enarotali, dan Serui-Menawi-Subeba.
West Papua province’s route: Manowari-Sorong, Manokwari-Bintuni, Fakfak-Hurimber-Bomberay, dan Sorong-Mega.
For better convenience and better service for tourists in Raja Ampat, currently there are renovations for tourism facilities in Painemo Island. Facilities such as toilets, souvenir shops, local handicraft stalls, and many others are being revamped in this Raja Ampat’s tourist destination. In the future, the renovation will expand to other touristic areas in Raja Ampat.
