19.92 Hectare of Slum Settlements in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan Needs to be Addressed

Minister of PKP Maruarar Sirait (Photo: Public Relations)

JAKARTA - The area of the slum in Parit Baru Village, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan (Kalbar) reaches 19.92 hectares inhabited by 3,492 people.

This was revealed after the Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning (PKP) Maruarar Sirait or Ara, accompanied by BP Tapera Commissioner Heru Pudyo Nugroho, carried out a working visit to the area, Monday, March 2.

Ara said that the working visit was carried out as part of the government's efforts to improve the quality of people's housing and accelerate the integrated handling of slums.

"Based on data, the area of the slum in Parit Baru Village reaches 19.92 hectares with a slum score of 38 (medium slum category) and is inhabited by 3,492 people," Ara said in an official statement, Tuesday, March 3.

On that occasion, Ara also reviewed a number of infrastructure works that were being carried out. Among others, the construction of a neighborhood road along 2,565.70 meters, the construction of a drainage along 2,001.47 meters, the provision of 90 units of sanitation management facilities and the construction of four units of fire protection facilities.

The infrastructure work is expected to be able to improve the quality of the residential environment as well as provide a sense of security and comfort for the community.

BP Tapera Commissioner Heru Pudyo Nugroho said his party was ready to support efforts to improve the quality of settlements through the Housing Financing Liquidity Facility (FLPP) or subsidized houses.

According to him, slum management needs to be accompanied by access to affordable housing financing for low-income people (MBR).

Through the FLPP subsidized house program, Heru conveyed BP Tapera's commitment to expanding access to ownership of decent housing for MBR.

"The synergy between improving the quality of the area and supporting housing financing is the key so that people not only enjoy a better environment, but also have housing certainty," he said.

Also present during the working visit were the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, Deputy Head of the Central Statistics Agency Sonny Harry Budiutomo Harmadi, Regent of Kubu Raya Regency Sujiwo to the Director General of the Residential Area of the Ministry of PKP Fitrah Nur.

The working visit of a number of stakeholders is expected to accelerate the handling of slums and improve the quality of people's settlements in the Kubu Raya Regency area, as well as being a concrete step in realizing a livable, safe and sustainable settlement.