President Jokowi Reviews Vaccination Of 1000 Residents In Balikpapan

Indonesian President Joko Widodo. (Photo: Antara)

BALIKPAPAN – Apart from inaugurating the Balikpapan-Samarinda Toll Road Section 1 and Section 5 at the Manggar Toll Gate, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is scheduled to visit Balikpapan to review the COVID-19 vaccination at the Dome on Tuesday, August 24 on Ruhui Rahayu street with a target of 1,000 residents, including students and faculty.

"Apart from the standard protocol for securing the President, plus health protocols due to COVID-19, all of the President's activities are under very tight security," said Head of Information for Kodam VI/Mulawarman, Lt. Col. Inf. Taufik Hanif, quoting Antara, Monday, August 23.

Therefore, he said, both attendance and journalists covering the President's activities would be limited.

During the visit and review, the President will be accompanied by East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor, Military Commander VI/Mulawarman Major General Heri Wiranto, East Kalimantan Regional Police Chief Inspector General Herry Rudolf Nahak, and Balikpapan Mayor Rahmad Mas'ud.

The President did not spend the night in Balikpapan but immediately returned to Jakarta using the Indonesian Presidential plane.

Regarding the inauguration of the Balikpapan-Samarinda toll road, President Joko Widodo first inaugurated the 66 km Samboja-Palaran section at the end of 2019. At that time, section 1 and section 5 had not been completed due to various technical problems.

This first toll road in Kalimantan shortens the distance and travel time between Balikpapan-Samarinda. With a distance of approximately 99 km between the two cities, time can be saved via toll roads. Balikpapan-Samarinda via the toll road currently takes approximately one hour, while vehicles using non-toll roads take between 2-3 hours.

Currently, the road, which was built with concrete construction, has been passed by no less than 3,000 vehicles per day.