VIRTUALLY COMPLETED, THE YETETKUN INTEGRATED PLBN BECOMES THE THIRD PLBN IN PAPUA

VIRTUALLY COMPLETED, THE YETETKUN INTEGRATED PLBN BECOMES THE THIRD PLBN IN PAPUA

The construction of the Yetetkun Integrated Cross-Border Post (PLBN) in Boven Digoel Regency, Papua Province, will soon be completed. Quoting kompas.com, the physical progress currently of the third PLBN in Papua Province has reached 97.57 percent. This infrastructure is expected to have a positive impact on the people of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border.

Aside from the PLBN, the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) is also improving the quality of the border road (Trans Papua) on the Merauke-Boven Digoel section to strengthen the connectivity of the border area.This connectivity support makes it easier for the community to bring their agricultural products to sell at the National Boundary Peg where there is usually a shock market. PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the construction of the PLBN is not only the pride of Indonesia as a great nation.

But the most important thing is the function of defense security, as well as being the center of new economic growth in the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border area. “The development of the PLBN is not only an entry gate, but also the embryo of a regional economic growth center that can improve the welfare of border communities,” Basuki said in a press release, Thursday (17/03/2022). The PLBN construction began in February 2020 and is targeted for completion in May 2022, with funds sourced from the 2020-2022 State Budget (MYC) amounting to Rp 115.8 billion.

The PLBN construction is divided into core and sub-core zones. The scope of work in the core zone includes the main PLBN building, checkpoints, gate posts, TNI posts, power houses, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP), procurement of X-Ray and thermal detection equipment, as well as portals. Meanwhile, for the sub-core zone, employee houses and supporting zones will be built such as kiosks (economic centers), landscaping, and other infrastructure such as waste processing sites and provision of toilet and bathrooms.

Previously, President Joko Widodo had inaugurated two integrated PLBNs in Papua. The first was the Skouw Integrated PLBN in Muara Tami District, Jayapura City in 2017. Second, the Sota Integrated PLBN in Merauke in October 2021.

The National Border Post (PLBN) is a reflection of the government’s commitment in developing Indonesia from the border areas. With a new face and better service, PLBN is built as a representation of Indonesia’s progress in the border area. “The border area is the front porch of Indonesia that represents the face of the nation, which we must continue to build so that it can be a symbol of Indonesia’s progress that makes all our citizens proud,” President Joko Widodo said in his remarks when inaugurating the Sota PLBN, Sota District, Merauke Regency, Papua Province, Sunday (03/10/2021).

The Sota PLBN, with an area of 5.6 hectares and an investment value of Rp. 114.04 billion, is the 8th PLBN built on the Indonesian border in 2019. For Papua Province, the Sota PLBN is the second PLBN after the Skouw PLBN in Jayapura. Previously, President Joko Widodo inaugurated the new terminal for Mopah Airport. The infrastructure development will connect and unify the territory of Indonesia so that the mobility of people, goods and services becomes easier.

“That is the importance of infrastructure because for the last seven years, we have continued to build and develop airports, build ports to facilitate sea toll connectivity and build roads throughout the country,” said the President.

The new 7,200-square-meter terminal, which was built since 2016, is capable of serving up to 638 thousand passengers per year. The existence of this new terminal is expected to improve the quality of service to air transportation service users. “In the future, the capacity of this airport terminal will continue to be increased to anticipate the increase in the number of passengers, anticipate the increase in community mobility and existing economic activities,” he continued.