Commission V DPR Calls President Prabowo Orders To Overcome The Issue Of Irrigation In Strengthening Food Security

Chairman of Commission V DPR RI Lasarus (central) gave a press statement after meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (17/4/2025). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus)

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission V DPR RI Lasarus said President Prabowo Subianto ordered the acceleration of the completion of the irrigation system to strengthen food security.

This was conveyed after he and a number of leaders of Commission V DPR RI met with President Prabowo at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Thursday, April 17.

"Earlier, it was also responded to immediately complete the irrigation related to food security," said Lasarus.

He revealed that the meeting discussed dams that had been built but were not equipped with primary or secondary irrigation.

Prabowo, he said, asked that the irrigation system be completed immediately in order to strengthen food security. In addition, irrigation for rain fields is also discussed with a simple irrigation pattern that can be done directly by the community.

Lasarus added that the meeting also discussed housing programs, including the target of building 3 million houses.

He said that based on Law Number 1 of 2011 concerning Housing and Settlement Areas, developers must build three simple houses for every one luxury house built.

"For these 3 million houses, actually the developer's obligation was also a concern because in the Housing and Settlement Law there is a developer obligation, every time he builds a luxury house, the developer is obliged to build three simple houses. Likewise for flats," he said.

Lasarus added that the Government would issue an Instruction (Presidential Instruction) to follow up on the order.

"Irrigation was immediately followed up by the Presidential Instruction, including housing," he said.

The meeting also discussed national road maintenance, improving regional road quality, handling over-dimensional over-loading (ODOL) trucks, and border parallel roads.

The DPR Commission V leaders who took part in the meeting were Deputy Chairperson of Syaiful Huda, Deputy Chairperson Ridwan Bae, Deputy Chairperson of Roberth Rouw, and Deputy Chairman Andi Iwan Darmawan Aras.