By: Dina Kahyang Putri )*
The Government of the Republic of Indonesia continues to intensify various projects for the construction and repair or quality improvement of all infrastructure in Labuan Bajo, especially for the holding of the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
It is known that Indonesia will again be entrusted with holding the 42nd ASEAN Summit in 2023 to become chairman and host as well. The international event which will be held from 9 to 11 May 2023 will be held in the Labuan Bajo Area, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT).
Regarding the holding of meetings between heads of state as well as high-ranking state officials from all regional countries in ASEAN, then the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), continues to make various efforts to improve related to several infrastructure supporting facilities, especially in locations that will become venues, namely in the Labuan Bajo Area and the Tanamori Area.
The improvement of supporting facilities at SEZ Tana Mori was carried out by the PUPR Ministry through the NTT Regional Settlement Infrastructure Center (BPPW) Directorate General of Cipta Karya and the NTT National Road Implementation Center (BPJN) Directorate General of Highways.
So far, the progress of implementing improved facilities to continue to support the success of holding the 2023 ASEAN Summit, especially in the Labuan Bajo Region, is up to 72.26% (percent). Then, the progress of the implementation of the improvement of supporting facilities in the Tanamori Area itself has now reached up to 93.88% (percent).
The scope of work being carried out in the Labuan Bajo area itself includes the construction of the West Manggarai Police Command Headquarters, then the arrangement of the Labuan Bajo Marina Promenade Zone 4, followed by improving the landscape quality of the Labuan Bajo road corridor.
Not only that, but the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) also arranged the VVIP parking lot at the West Manggarai Regent’s Office, then arranged the roads and sidewalks of Sp. Binongko to Sp. Sylvia (Jl. Waecicu) and also the median arrangement of Jalan Yohanes Sehadun which is located in front of the Komodo airport.
Then, the progress of the work carried out within the Tanamori area itself includes the construction of the Roundabout Beach Club, Pier shelters, installation of geomats in the road corridors of the Tana Mori area, arrangement of roundabouts at the entrance to the ITDC area. There was also slope strengthening and stabilization of plants along the Labuan Bajo to Tanamori road section which was previously inaugurated directly by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on March 14, 2023.
The PUPR Ministry is also building a Munting Child Reservoir between Labuan Bajo to Tanamori in Warloka Village, Komodo District. The Anak Munting Reservoir has a capacity of 159,481.10 cubic meters and an inundation area of 4.5 hectares. Its main function is to conserve and support tourism in the Labuan Bajo Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) in the framework of the ASEAN Summit.
The improvement in facilities that is being continuously carried out and pursued by the Government of Indonesia through the construction and greening of infrastructure at the venue for the 42nd ASEAN Summit itself clearly shows how serious the commitment that Indonesia has is to continue to bring all countries in the ASEAN region itself to become a region that has a very important role for the people, for the region itself to the world.
The Director General (Dirjen) Cipta Karya of the PUPR Ministry, Diana Kusumastuti stated that so far development in the entire Labuan Bajo Region and Tana Mori Region has indeed not only played a role in supporting the holding of the 2023 ASEAN Summit.
But more than that, because it is able to continue to improve the quality of the two regions, especially in the tourism, environmental and regional economic sectors that are sustainable. He also added that it is very important to continue to improve the quality of the tourism sector because at every holiday moment, including during the Eid Al-Fitr 2023 holiday like this, local people continue to use the Labuan Bajo waterfront area for sightseeing and are also used for lead prayers on Hari Raya.
The reason is that this quality improvement itself is very much in line with the spirit and big theme raised by Indonesia as the Chair of the 2023 ASEAN Summit, namely by presenting the theme ‘ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth’. So that we are determined to continue to carry the good name of the ASEAN region to continue to be relevant in the eyes of the world and to make ASEAN itself a central region that continues to encourage growth even in the midst of global uncertainty like today.
The ASEAN Summit 2023 event in Labuan Bajo continues to encourage the government to further intensify the development of supporting facilities in the venue area because it ensures readiness and also further supports the success of the event.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
