By: Thomas Krei) *
The sea highway is a new innovation in the distribution of goods to eastern Indonesia, including Papua. With the sea highway, the Papuan people will always benefit. Because they can get groceries more easily and are of good quality.
Papua and West Papua are the 2 farthest provinces in eastern Indonesia. Most of the native people consume sago and other staples. While the newcomers still eat white rice. Indeed, there is rice there, but the price is certainly different from that in Java, because the transportation costs are expensive. Most of them are transported via airplane.
How to deal with the high prices of rice, sugar and other basic necessities in Papua? One way is by shipping via sea toll. With a sea lane, it can reduce shipping costs, because it is not as expensive as via airplane. The sea highway will later connect to the Youtefa Bridge, so that the distribution of basic necessities will be faster.
Yahya Kuncoro, Director of the Sea Freight and Freight Transport Business, stated that KM Logistik Nusantara 2 has distributed basic necessities and other staples to the Papua and West Papua regions. The route is Merauke-Kokas-Sorong-Biak and Jayapura-Sorong-Merauke. A total of 21 containers of rice and soy sauce will be distributed.
The existence of a sea highway is very useful, because KM and other vehicles can pass the route. So as to facilitate the transportation of residents and they are greatly helped by this important infrastructure. Distribution of essential goods such as rice is also easier. If there will be 8 sea highway routes, it will speed up the delivery.
People in an area at the tip of Merauke can enjoy rice and other basic necessities without having to worry about waiting for the plane to arrive. They are waiting for vehicles passing the sea highway, and later they will be able to enjoy shipments from Jayapura. There will be equality in the right to consume basic necessities.
In addition, shipping via sea highway routes also cuts shipping costs. Because the price of aviation fuel is getting more expensive, so transportation by plane is high. It will also affect the selling price of basic foodstuffs. Not everyone can afford it, even though rice is the staple food they always consume.
When shipping costs can be reduced, the price of rice and other basic necessities can go down. This really helps the community, because they can eat white rice without worrying about the price. So they can save expenses and be able to save little by little.
The existence of a sea highway also makes it easier for shipments from Jayapura to Merauke and from Merauke to Biak. Delivery of goods from the capital city of Jayapura can reach very remote areas such as Merauke. So that the residents there will have no difficulty getting basic goods or daily necessities.
On the other hand, the route of vehicles passing the sea highway from Merauke to Biak will facilitate trade. Because farmers and entrepreneurs in Merauke can sell agricultural products and merchandise, even to the Biak area. When transportation is made easy, business will run smoothly.
They don’t need to rely on chartered planes. Apart from the very expensive rent, in this rainy season it is very risky to fly. So it is safer via the sea highway. The existence of this toll road really helps them so that life can get better. Because this infrastructure is designed to benefit the community.
President Jokowi is indeed very concerned about the Papuan people and has created a sea highway that makes their transportation easier. So that all matters are in order. The construction of toll roads as infrastructure is not a waste. Instead of investing in the long term, in order to facilitate the lives of Papuan civilians.
The sea highway is very helpful in distributing rice and other goods, all the way to Merauke. People in remote areas will not feel separated, because they can also enjoy goods sent from Jayapura. When the distribution via sea toll goes smoothly, the price of basic food can be reduced. Because the fare is cheaper than via airplane.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Semarang
