Home Affairs Minister and Housing Minister Target Renovation of 1,000 Unfit Homes in Sitaro
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian, as Head of the National Border Management Agency (BNPP) of Indonesia, visited Siau Tagulandang Biaro Regency (Sitaro) in North Sulawesi to hand over assistance for the Unfit Housing Improvement Programme (RTLH) amounting to 1,000 units through the Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance (BSPS) scheme.
During the visit, the Minister of Home Affairs was accompanied by Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait. The two also inspected the conditions of residents affected by flash floods in the area.
“Following the instructions of President Prabowo, we are here to assist communities impacted by the floods as well as through the unfit housing programme. This year, the Ministry of PKP has allocated 1,000 RTLH units for Sitaro,” said the Minister of Home Affairs in his statement in Jakarta on Friday.
Tito emphasised that the housing programme is a tangible manifestation of the state’s presence in border areas, aligning with the President’s mandate to strengthen social justice, regional resilience, and foster a sense of nationality among border communities, particularly in Sitaro Regency.
The National Border Management Agency (BNPP) of Indonesia proposed handling 700 RTLH units in the border areas of West Siau and North West Siau Sub-districts. This proposal was approved by the Minister of PKP and reinforced with an additional 300 units outside border areas, bringing the total housing assistance for Sitaro Regency to 1,000 units.
The Minister of Home Affairs added that nationally, the government has allocated 15,000 house renovation units specifically for state border areas.
This surge is considered very significant because previously there had been no specific allocation for RTLH in border regions.
“One of them is the Sitaro Islands, especially since this area has recently been affected by flash floods. Out of the total 400,000 national housing programme units, 15,000 are specifically allocated for border areas. This is an extraordinary increase because previously border areas had none,” said Tito.
Meanwhile, Minister of PKP Maruarar Sirait affirmed the commitment to accelerating the implementation of the RTLH Improvement Programme in Sitaro Regency.
“Following the President’s instructions, we fully support the steps taken by BNPP. Starting next week, we will immediately prepare 1,000 houses for renovation, from unfit to habitable, in Sitaro Island,” said Maruarar.
He stated that there are three main considerations for determining the programme allocation in Sitaro Regency, namely Sitaro’s strategic position as a state border area, the relatively high poverty rate based on statistical data, and the impact of flash floods that require quick and measured handling.
“These three reasons form the basis of the policy that we can be accountable for,” he said.
Through the synergy between BNPP and the Ministry of PKP, the house renovation programme in Sitaro is expected to become a driving force for improving the quality of life of border communities.
More than just home improvements, this step reaffirms the state’s sustainable presence in strengthening welfare, social resilience, and national pride in Indonesia’s outermost regions.