Head of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Agency Marsudi stated that the Kotaku program aimed at improving infrastructure access and urban service in selected slum urban areas. It also aimed at strengthening public facilities and settlements in disaster-prone areas. Thus, in the end, the program could achieve livable, productive, and sustainable urban settlements.
In 2021, the Kotaku program was divided into two activities in West Papua. Those were regular activities and Kotaku cash for work (CFW). CFW aimed at providing cash aid in the form of employees’ wages. It was for those people who experienced termination of employment due to COVID-19. It was also for those people who experienced income reduction and loss.
Other objectives of the program included supporting post-COVID-19 socioeconomic recovery speed up, increasing the purchasing power of the people affected by the pandemic, and maintaining and using infrastructure assets resulted from the program through maintenance and improvement.
During cash for work socialization in Sorong, Mario explained that the program would cover other areas. Those were five urban villages in Manokwari and five others in Sorong, West Papua. Each area would receive 300 million rupiahs. The area selection was based on the impact of COVID-19 received by the area and the existence of settlements of more than one year old constructed by the program.
Coordinator of Kotaku program for Sorong Halmya Baadilla, the program would hire 200 employees. Baadilla further explained that most of them would be women by considering their enthusiasm for the program.
Realization of Cash for Work Program
The Indonesian government had realized the budget for cash for work for national economic restoration. A total of 357,2 billion rupiahs were disbursed to cover the loss during the pandemic. The funds were distributed into three ministries. Those were the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Agriculture.
The total realization for the program was 71.9%, 67.4%, and 36.7% for the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Agriculture, respectively.
Besides, the program created new jobs for 5,762 people in the Ministry of Public Work and Housing, 170 people in the Ministry of Transportation, and 9,960 people in the Ministry of Agriculture.
Program Implementation Survey in West Papua
Implemented across Indonesia, the cash for work program covered several works. Those were improvement and construction of small irrigation networks, road maintenance, special and innate house construction, and construction of production roads, environment roads, and drainages. The program was aimed to increase people’s income and increase cash circulation at the regional level.
To review the progress, Jokowi surveyed Sorong. The agenda was to view the progress of environmental road construction in Klasabi, Sorong Manoi District. During the survey, the President was accompanied by the Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono and West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan.
Besides the President himself, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing reviewed the people infrastructure program through the CFW scheme. The Ministry surveyed National Road Agency in Wamena.
Thomas Setiabudi Aden stated that the program in Wamena involved local people. They were selected as workers to support national economic recovery due to the pandemic in the region. Their works included the construction of small-scale infrastructure or simple works that did not require technology involvement.
Aden further stated that the program also aimed at distributing funds up to villages/ rural areas. He also mentioned that the implementation of CFW should pay attention to social distancing to prevent COVID-19 spread.
According to Aden, the main focus in Jayawijaya was constructing Trans Papua. The road would channel Jayawijaya to Mulia, Sinak, Ilaga, and Habema. He saw that the government needed to hire new workers. This was due to the plenty of targets they needed to achieve. He also added that the Ministry of Public Works and Housing would add some budget for the program.
