Andre Rosiade Distributes 500 Staple Food Packages and Outlines West Sumatra Development Progress

A warm atmosphere was felt in Parupuk Tabing, Koto Tangah District, Padang City, on Thursday (5/3). On the eve of breaking the fast, Deputy Chairman of Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Gerindra faction, Andre Rosiade, distributed 500 staple food packages to local residents.

In addition to handing out aid, Andre conversed with hundreds of community members present and treated residents to breaking the fast together. The activity was met with enthusiastic public reception. Andre’s presence among the people not only brought staple food aid but also support for the construction of religious and social facilities in the local environment.

Andre also provided assistance for mosque repairs and helped with the construction of a fence around the Balaimansiang cemetery area. The aid was given in response to aspirations conveyed by local community leaders.

Andre used the momentum of the gathering to communicate various development programmes planned by the Central Government in West Sumatra (Sumbar) under President Prabowo Subianto. According to Andre, the government is committed to accelerating infrastructure development to spur economic growth and improve welfare in the Minangkabau heartland.

One of the strategic projects he mentioned is the construction of the Sicincin-Bukittinggi toll road with an investment value of around Rp25.6 trillion. The large project is targeted to commence in October 2026 and is expected to speed up inter-regional connectivity and support regional economic growth.

Additionally, the central government has prepared a rehabilitation and reconstruction budget following natural disasters in Sumbar amounting to Rp18.9 trillion. The funds will be used to repair various critical infrastructures damaged by disasters, including Rp500 billion for the Lembah Anai area.

Andre explained that repairs in the Lembah Anai area are crucial because it is a vital corridor connecting Padang City with Bukittinggi and several other areas in West Sumatra. The government targets the route to be open 24 hours during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr mudik period.

“The central government is serious about helping West Sumatra. Many large programmes are being prepared, including toll road development, national road repairs, and disaster-affected regional rehabilitation,” Andre said in a statement on Friday (6/3/2026).

Andre also stressed that the central government is taking over several provincial road improvement projects that had been constrained by regional budget limitations. One of them is a road repair project in the Agam Regency with a total budget of around Rp670 billion.

Moreover, the government plans to repair the Alahan Panjang-Bayang road in Pesisir Selatan Regency with an allocation of around Rp275 billion. These repairs are expected to improve transport access while unlocking economic potential for the local community.

Not only road infrastructure, the central government is also focusing on the people’s economy sector. Andre noted that the government is preparing the redevelopment of Payakumbuh Market and the Serikat Batusangkar Market, planned to begin later this year or early 2027.

In addition to outlining development programmes, Andre directly followed up on the aspirations of the Parupuk Tabing community communicated by local leaders. He provided a cash grant of Rp10 million for the construction of a fence around the Balaimansiang cemetery area.

He also handed over Rp10 million as seed money for mosque repairs in the area. According to Andre, places of worship are community hubs that must be maintained and improved so that worshippers can use them to the maximum.

As a gesture of concern for the economy, Andre also distributed 500 staple food packages to residents present. The aid was handed directly to those in need and formed part of the Ramadan sharing programme.

Meanwhile, Padang City Council member from the Gerindra faction, Manufer Putra Firdaus, expressed pleasure at Andre Rosiade’s visit to his electoral district in Koto Tangah. He said Andre’s presence motivates Gerindra cadres and demonstrates real commitment to the community.

“Alhamdulillah, thank you Pak Andre Rosiade. He has shared staple food aid several times in our area. But this time is special because he could meet the people directly,” Manufer said.

He viewed the activity as a tangible example of how an elected representative can be present among the people, hear their aspirations, and provide the needed assistance.

“This also motivates us as Gerindra cadres to continue following the example set by the Chairman of the West Sumatra Gerindra DPD,” he added.

Parupuk Tabing community leader Novi Sastra also expressed appreciation for Andre’s attendance at the gathering. He noted that relations between Parupuk Tabing residents and Gerindra leaders, including Andre and the IKM (Minangkabau Family Association) Secretary General Braditi Moulevey, have been well established for a long time.

Novi emphasised that attention to public facilities and places of worship is a fundamental need for Parupuk Tabing residents. Therefore, the community very much hopes for support from their representatives so that these projects can be realised soon.

The event, held as Ramadan approached, concluded with a shared breaking of the fast between Andre Rosiade and the Parupuk Tabing community, strengthening ties between the representative and the people he serves.

For information, Andre attended the event accompanied by Padang City Council member from the Gerindra faction Manufer Putra Firdaus and Parupuk Tabing community leader Novi Sastra.