218 Bridges Completed, Prabowo Pleased: Here's Why
President Prabowo Subianto expressed greater relief following the completion of 218 bridges across various regions, enabling children, particularly in remote areas, to no longer face danger when crossing rivers.
This was conveyed by Prabowo in his remarks at the inauguration of 218 bridges across various regions, held via video conference from Jakarta on Monday, 9 March, in the afternoon.
“Now I sleep more peacefully because children in remote villages no longer need to cross rivers in dangerous conditions that threaten their safety. Our children in remote locations no longer need to sit in class with wet clothes, returning home from school with wet clothing,” said Prabowo.
The President stated that the hundreds of bridges were constructed to assist communities in disaster-affected areas and regions requiring connecting access infrastructure.
According to Prabowo, the presence of these bridges enables communities, including children in remote areas, to no longer cross rivers with risks that jeopardise their safety.
The President also noted that children no longer need to attend learning activities in wet clothes after crossing rivers when travelling to and from school.
The Head of State stated that the construction of bridges in remote areas holds significant importance for communities, even though some bridges span only tens of metres.
The President conveyed that his government prioritises addressing difficulties faced by communities in small and remote regions through development of basic infrastructure such as connecting bridges.
“This is the meaning that suspension bridges in remote areas which span only several metres in width and length are, in truth, strategic to the government I lead. That the interests of the people are what we prioritise most,” said Prabowo.
The President also expressed appreciation to the Indonesian military (TNI) involved in constructing these bridges through the Bridge Task Force led by Chief of the Army General Maruli Simanjuntak.
“I thank you as your President, as your Supreme Commander. I am grateful, proud, and respectful that I lead an army so full of love for its people, so spirited, so brave in sacrificing everything for the interests of the nation and people we love,” said the President.
The 218 bridges inaugurated comprise 77 Bailey bridges, 59 Armco bridges, and 82 pioneer bridges constructed by the TNI within approximately 2.5 months.
Present at the inauguration were Defence Minister Safrie Sjamsoeddin, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Commander of the TNI General Agus Subiyanto, Deputy Commander of the TNI General Tandyo Budi Revita, Chief of the Army General Maruli Simanjuntak, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.