Prabowo announces push to build 5,000 rural bridges across Indonesia
Speaking at the 2026 Annual Session of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the Joint Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Friday, the head of state underlined that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), farmers, fishermen and artisans remain the backbone of the country’s economic resilience.
President Prabowo drew historical parallels to the 1998 Asian financial crisis, pointing out that while major financial institutions collapsed and large conglomerates shut down, the rural grassroots economy helped sustain the nation.
“We remember the 1998 crisis—the monetary crisis—when large banks closed and large companies went bankrupt. The village economy—the people’s economy—remained strong and resilient. What saved us were MSMEs,” Prabowo recalled.
To support various rural economic activity and ensure safe access to schools and markets, the government has prioritized building village bridges and clean water facilities nationwide.
Prabowo said that throughout 2026, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) had constructed 2,500 village bridges, while the Indonesian National Police (Polri) had completed 874.
The government aims to complete more than 5,000 village bridges by the end of the year.
Highlighting the human impact of infrastructure gaps, Prabowo stressed that schoolchildren should no longer have to endure hours-long journeys or cross dangerous rivers in wet conditions to access education.
Addressing regional leaders directly, President Prabowo instructed governors, regents, sub-district heads and village chiefs to map infrastructure needs in their respective areas, warning that the central government would step in directly if local officials failed to address the gaps.
“If governors, regents and village heads cannot address this, the central government will step in and address it. We will not allow our people to be neglected,” he affirmed.
In addition to improving transport links, the government, through the TNI, had established around 3,000 clean water points in rural areas by early 2026 to ensure communities no longer have to walk long distances to access various basic necessities.
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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh Prayudhia, Yashinta Difa