Kupang Students Meet Gibran, Demand Fulfilment of Amfoang Bridge Repair Promise

The Kupang Regency Student Association (PERMASKKU) met with Vice President (Wapres) Gibran Rakabuming Raka during his visit to Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to seek confirmation on progress regarding demands for the repair of a collapsed bridge in Amfoang, Kupang Regency. Gibran had previously visited the bridge, which was severed by flooding, and pledged to carry out repairs. “The information we received from the Vice President’s office earlier is that it is currently being processed,” said Permaskku Chairman Asten Alfensus Bait Asten on Friday (19/6/2026). Asten revealed that one of the steps to be taken by the central government is the construction of a temporary bridge in Amfoang, while awaiting the construction of a permanent bridge. Previously, Permaskku and local residents had voiced a number of demands regarding infrastructure conditions and access in the Amfoang area, including the Kapsaly and Termanu bridges which collapsed following Cyclone Seroja several years ago. The loss of these two bridges resulted in the isolation of communities in the Amfoang region. On Thursday (18/6/2026), Gibran also visited two schools in Ende Regency, NTT. There, he addressed the controversy surrounding the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP), which went viral after being accused of displacing part of the Wolomoni State Primary School (SDN) building in Niowula Village, Detusoko District, Ende. “Therefore, Mr. Village Head and Mr. Regent, please pay close attention to where the cooperative’s location is, whether any parties are disadvantaged, and what the impacts are. It must be properly assessed, and it must not compete with Village-Owned Enterprises or residents’ grocery shops. Ensure this becomes a mutually supportive ecosystem. Please ensure the site selection is thoroughly reviewed and discussed with residents so that no one is affected or disadvantaged,” Gibran stated in a video of his visit to SDN Wolomoni released by the Vice President’s Secretariat on Friday (19/6/2026). Gibran also visited SMPN 1 Ndona Ende, where he stated that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) would be evaluated during the school holiday period. According to him, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme requires significant improvements to make its management more efficient.