Answering Blora's Hopes for Infrastructure Development

Regional development at its most fundamental level rests on infrastructure. As the backbone of development, infrastructure plays a vital role in facilitating the movement of people and goods, opening new economic access, improving the quality of education and health services, and promoting equitable growth across regions.

Blora Regent Arief Rohman shares this view on the importance of infrastructure development. He has championed the vision of “Building a Progressive and Sustainable Blora Together,” which in the first year of his leadership has been realised through the acceleration of various regional infrastructure development programmes.

“We received a mandate from the people in the last election with nearly 84 per cent of the vote. This naturally represents great expectations from the people of Blora,” Arief said on Thursday, 19 February 2026. “The expectations to be achieved, particularly the priority programmes that are indeed the hopes of the majority of the public, are in the field of infrastructure.”

Throughout 2025, the Blora District Government allocated more than Rp 400 billion for road infrastructure development, sourced from the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD), Presidential Instruction Road funds, General Allocation Funds (DAU), Special Allocation Funds (DAK), and provincial assistance.

Arief explained that with these funds, the Blora District Government constructed 103 vital road segments, with regional infrastructure development now approaching 70 per cent completion. “Our remaining homework is around 30 per cent more to be completed by the end of the term over the next four years,” he said. “So the achievement in one year of government in the infrastructure sector has been running at maximum capacity.”

Going forward, damaged strategic road segments will be promptly addressed. These include the Jepon-Bogorejo road segment bordering Tuban, Tunjungan-Nglangitan-Keser, Japah-Tunjungan, and Cabak-Bleboh. “We endeavoured to have these vital road segments built last year. And indeed the impact has been extraordinary,” he said.

With infrastructure development, Arief continued, economic equity can be promoted, particularly in facilitating the distribution of food produce. He cited examples where, in several areas with damaged roads, commodity prices had fallen due to high distribution costs. However, after infrastructure was repaired, transportation became smooth and agricultural produce from Blora’s farmers could once again be competitive.

This success has not come solely from the Blora District Government’s efforts alone. According to Arief, synergy and collaboration are key. In the process, the construction of these road segments involved various parties, including the military, the police, and the community. From this, employment opportunities have also opened up. “Praise be to God, the infrastructure development has been able to absorb local labour,” he said.

Beyond road construction, the Blora District Government is also supporting the development of National Strategic Projects (PSN), such as the development of Kampung Capekat, the construction of Karangnongko Dam, People’s Schools, Merah Putih Cooperatives, and the Free Nutritious Meals programme (MBG).

Arief expressed hope that all programmes in Blora District — both priority programmes and National Strategic Projects — would receive full support from the central government, particularly in terms of funding. He added that the Blora District Government currently faces challenges regarding budget efficiency cuts of nearly Rp 370 billion. Nevertheless, Arief hopes for central government support in terms of funding beyond the APBD, such as investment funding schemes that could be developed to tap into the region’s potential in agriculture, livestock, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).