KSP Controls Mangrove Improvement And Road Access For Cirebon Salt Farmers

Deputy I KSP Febry Calvin Tetelepta/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) oversees the repair of the mangrove ecosystem and damaged road infrastructure to the salt production center in the People's Salt Tambak area, Rawaurip Village, Cirebon Regency, West Java.

“KSP not only accommodates the complaints and aspirations of the community, but we also make efforts to debottleneck all problems that hinder national interests. What are the complaints of the salt farmers are the government's attention," said Deputy I KSP Febry Calvin Tetelepta in Rawaurip Village, Pangenan District, Cirebon, Thursday, April 7.

Quoted by Antara, efforts to improve the mangrove ecosystem, road infrastructure and subsequently overcome river silting due to sedimentation, are a follow-up to the report from the salt farmer community submitted to the Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko during a visit to Rawaurip Village on October 8, 2021.

Febry and the Jakarta-West Java National Road Implementation Center on Thursday reviewed the condition of the 3.5 km production road that was damaged and hampered the access of salt farmers.

“This production road is important because it is used to transport people's salt from production centers. KSP will hold a coordination meeting with the Directorate General of Highways of the Ministry of PUPR to determine the timeframe for road repairs, the sooner the better, before the dry season," he said.

Febry said KSP is also actively coordinating with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and related institutions in handling damage to mangrove ecosystems.

Salt farmers in Rawaurip previously complained about the threat of crop failure due to tidal flooding.

To overcome this, KSP and related ministries/agencies coordinate to revitalize 25 hectares of mangrove land to prevent seawater abrasion which can damage salt pond areas.

Furthermore, to deal with potential flooding, KSP together with the Center for the Cimanuk-Cisanggarung River Region will deal with the silting of the Cimanis Bangka Deres River due to sedimentation.

A number of heavy equipment, said Febry, had been deployed in the 700-meter-long river. The dredging process will continue until it reaches 3.5 kilometers.

"This series of collaborative work between the government, local government and the community is a commitment to protect and restore coastal ecosystems and help salt farmers produce optimally so as to improve welfare," said Febry.