Masungkang Suspension Bridge Built for Safety and Education Access

The construction of a suspension bridge in Masungkang Village, Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, has been completed to secure access to education. Previously, students in the area faced disrupted schooling due to the absence of a bridge.

Education observer and practitioner Indra Charismiadji stated that the move reflects responsiveness and a commitment to the needs of the people. The bridge, reportedly built using the personal funds of Central Sulawesi Governor Anwar Hafid, is seen as a positive response to the conditions faced by students and residents in Banggai who had to cross a river for their daily mobility.

Governor Anwar Hafid received a direct report about the broken bridge. The former two-term Regent of Morowali recounted that the incident affecting children in Banggai was exactly what he had experienced 40 years ago in Morowali Regency. The construction of the suspension bridge was undertaken as a temporary measure to ensure that schooling is no longer halted simply because of impassable road access.

With the new bridge, children’s journeys to school have become safer, residents’ mobility has increased, access to health services and markets has improved, and local economic activities have become easier. Progressive infrastructure development is a priority of the current administration under Governor Anwar Hafid and Deputy Governor Reny Lamadjido. Through a Multi Years Contract (MYC) scheme, the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government has allocated a budget of Rp604.8 billion for road construction across the province. Additionally, in 2026, a further Rp208.98 billion has been allocated for building roads and bridges, covering 57 road sections and 10 bridges in various areas of Central Sulawesi.