CIDISS – Indonesia is an archipelago country. And then, air and sea transportation is needed to connect Indonesian territory. The existence of Air Transportation is required for the connection among islands. Time efficiency is one of them.
Airport development is a national strategic program of Jokowi government for easy access of transportation. And surely, it will have an impact to the economy and welfare of society.
Within a year Jokowi’s administration, it is in the process of built 15 new airports in Indonesia’s outlying areas, including Miangas Airport, Manokwari, Berau, Tual, Palu, Maumere, Tarakan, Central Aceh, Wakatobi, and others.
On Wednesday, 19/10/2016 ago, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) inaugurated the Miangas Airport. President was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and Governor of North Sulawesi (Sulut) Olly Dondokambey.
Miangas Airport is built on Miangas Island. Miangas Island involve in the District of kepulauan Talaud, North Sulawesi Province. And it is located near the border between Indonesia and Philippines.
When looking in Google Maps, Miangas Island is seen very close to the island of Mindanao, Philippines, and some distance from the northern tip of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. This is Indonesia’s foremost region in the north, and, Miangas is also known as Tapal Batas (Border) in North of Indonesia.
The community of Miangas Island currently consists of 213 family heads, with a total population of 802 people consisted of 387 men and 415 women.
Miangas Airport Development aims for defense and security infrastructure as well as for food distribution. In addition, Miangas Airport Development also aims to eliminate the isolation of Miangas Island and accelerate economic growth in the northern outer regions of Indonesia.
With the presence of Miangas Airport, a number of infrastructure projects in this outer island begin to run. Currently, Miangas Airport has a runway 1,400 meters, and as a plan in 2019, the runway will be extended to 1,600 meters.
Community figures in Miangas, Hibor Arunda’a quote in dephub.go.id, states there is a significant progress in society. If people used to rely heavily on sea transportation, now citizens are turning to planes.
“The condition of people’s life in Miangas Island has changed, especially in the transportation,” he said.
One of Miangas fishermen figures, Peter Mambu quoted detik.com, explained Miangas Airport has driven the economy and infrastructure development because the mobility of people is no longer limited. “The economy of people in Miangas Island could increase,” said Peter.
With the progress of the transportation sector in Miangas, this is a evidence to the commitment of President Joko Widodo’s government to realize Nawa Cita, bringing the country to the interests of the entire community and building Indonesia from the periphery and outer.
By the airport, Arunda’a said more convincing the love and pride of Miangas society be a part of Indonesia.