Gerindra Legislator Oversees Cikawung River Embankment Construction in Cilacap

The aspirations of the community in Sidasari Village, Cipari District, Cilacap Regency, for protection against the threat of flooding from the Cikawung River are now becoming a reality through the support and oversight of Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Gerindra Party faction, Dr. Hj. Novita Wijayanti. The construction of the flood control embankment, which has long been championed by the community and local government, has finally entered the implementation stage after securing budget support from the state budget (APBN) amounting to approximately Rp11 billion. The development is part of the government’s efforts to enhance protection for residential areas and agricultural land that have for years been frequently affected by the overflow of the Cikawung River during the rainy season.

Novita Wijayanti, a member of House Commission V, stated that the construction is a tangible manifestation of her commitment to following through on the community’s aspirations until they are realised into a development programme that provides direct benefits to residents. ‘From aspiration to action. What the people of Sidasari Village have hoped for is now being realised. Through joint struggle and commitment, the aspiration for the construction of the Cikawung River flood control embankment has been continuously pushed to protect residents from the threat of river overflows that have been a concern during the rainy season,’ she said in a statement on Friday. Novita, who also chairs the Gerindra Party’s women’s wing, Perempuan Indonesia Raya (PIRA), said the embankment is expected to provide a sense of security for the community, safeguard residential areas, and protect agricultural land that serves as the residents’ livelihood.

During a field inspection, the cadre from the party led by President Prabowo Subianto observed the progress of the work, which is currently in its initial stages. ‘This time I will take you to see the progress of the river embankment construction located in Sidasari Village, Cipari District, Cilacap Regency. This programme is funded by the state budget with a total of approximately Rp11 billion,’ she said. Meanwhile, a community representative expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by Novita Wijayanti, which enabled the construction to be realised in the 2026 fiscal year. The representative explained that the work spans approximately 1.5 kilometres and includes the construction of gabions at several vulnerable points as well as the river embankment to reinforce the banks of the Cikawung River. Currently, the work progress has reached the stage of material delivery to the site and land preparation using heavy equipment. The village government hopes that all stages of construction will proceed according to schedule so that the benefits can be felt by the community as soon as possible.