By : Patricia Oktavia Sikoway )*
The Papuan people appreciate the Government’s optimal efforts in providing transportation services through Ewer Airport. The existence of Ewer Airport, which was inaugurated by President Jokowi, has brought many positive impacts to all people in Asmat Regency.
The Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia (Menhub RI), Budi Karya Sumadi stated that with the inauguration of the Ewer Airport (Airport) located in Asmat Regency, South Papua Province, it will be able to become a strategic point to serve more flights, both passengers and flights. transporting goods whether it is going to or from the Papua region.
In fact, according to him, the existence of Ewer Airport will be able to become a very strategic central point. Because so far, Asmat Regency itself can be said to need infrastructure that is able to support mobility in the air, especially being able to transport passengers or goods to and from larger airports such as in Timika or Merauke.
Not only is it able to channel and become a central point for flights to and from larger airports, but the existence of Ewer Airport can also support mobility on air routes to smaller airports such as in remote areas in Papua.
The existence of Ewer Airport itself was indeed prepared by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) and also President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) with the aim of being able to use it to serve all transportation needs, especially for people in Asmat Regency itself.
The construction and development of infrastructure that has so far been carried out in various parts of the country, especially the development of transportation infrastructure in Asmat Regency, cannot be separated from how strong the government’s commitment is in its efforts to make development equitable in all corners of the country. .
President Jokowi himself as Head of State has also emphasized that the government under his command is indeed targeting the easternmost province in Indonesia, namely Tanah Papua, to become a priority development target proclaimed in its various programs.
It should be noted that Ewer Airport itself is quite adequate and also has good safety for ATR type aircraft, with a runway length of up to 1,650 meters and passengers arriving and traveling from Ewer almost every day.
Meanwhile, the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, has great hopes for Ewer Airport in Asmat Regency, South Papua Province, namely that his hope is that the inauguration of this airport will be able to open isolation and also accelerate the mobility of individuals and goods.
It cannot be denied that openness to isolation is very important, including ensuring good connectivity, to good connectivity between regions in each district, province and island.
The Head of State then explained that currently Ewer Airport itself is capable of serving a number of flight routes in Papua. some of them are flight routes from Timika twice a week, flights from Kamur four times a week, and from Merauke four times a week.
Then, another hope that was conveyed was that with community activities at Ewer Airport, it would also be able to further support the economy for the people in Asmat Regency in South Papua Province in general. Because of course the existence of infrastructure development proclaimed by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia will bring good and also be able to improve the welfare of citizens.
It is also hoped that Ewer Airport will be able to open up other sectors such as tourism in the Asmat Regency location and also be able to provide an economic multiplier effect for the economy of the people of South Papua.
For information, Ewer Airport itself has actually been developed from 2018 to 2022 with a total budget that has been disbursed by the Indonesian Government of up to 287 billion Rupiah originating from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN). The amount of the budget also shows clear evidence that President Jokowi is indeed very strongly committed to development in the Cenderawasih Earth region.
Meanwhile, a resident of the Asmat tribe named Veronicus also hopes that the next Indonesian leader will be able to have the same development mentality as that of President Joko Widodo. Moreover, so that the next Head of State also takes sides in the matter of development in Cenderawasih Land.
Indeed, with the many successful infrastructure developments proclaimed by President Jokowi, including in the development of the transportation sector such as Ewer Airport which is located in Asmat Regency. In the future it will be able to further open isolation in South Papua Province.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Yogyakarta