Seskab: President Prabowo's Message on School Bridge Access Realised
Jakarta (ANTARA) — Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that President Prabowo Subianto’s message regarding the importance of adequate access for communities to conduct activities and attend school has been swiftly realised by TNI ranks.
Through a social media post from the Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia on Monday, Teddy conveyed that approximately 2.5 months ago, President Prabowo emphasised his desire to end the situation where children must get soaked when travelling to school due to limited crossing access.
“About 2.5 months ago, the President instructed that he did not want children to have to get wet to go to school. There should no longer be traders, farmers, women and residents who must struggle to cross rivers and transport their harvests,” stated Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
According to Teddy, this directive was promptly implemented through the formation and swift action of the Bridge Task Force led by Army Chief of Staff General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak.
Together with soldiers on duty and supported by local community participation, bridge construction was carried out to ensure the President’s wishes could be quickly realised.
He viewed the collaboration between the TNI and the community as key to accelerating bridge construction implementation, thereby making public access safer and more comfortable, whilst also supporting educational and economic activities for residents in these areas.
“The instruction was swiftly and concretely implemented by the Bridge Task Force under the leadership of the Army Chief of Staff together with all soldiers on duty, aided by community members to make the President’s wishes a reality,” he said.
President Prabowo inaugurated 218 bridges constructed by the government within 2.5 months through the Bridge Task Force led by Army Chief of Staff Maruli Simanjuntak on Monday.
The bridge construction was intended to strengthen connectivity in various regions that had previously faced crossing obstacles.
The President stated that the river crossing access problem is a long-standing issue in many Indonesian regions. Therefore, the government is committed to increasing connecting bridges so that community mobility becomes easier.
The President also expressed appreciation to TNI soldiers and community members who worked together to assist the construction process.
According to the President, the bridges were built so that children no longer have to cross rivers whilst soaked to go to school.
The same applies to traders, farmers, and residents who have had to struggle to carry harvests or daily necessities whilst crossing.
Of the total 218 bridges inaugurated, they comprised 59 Bailey bridges, 82 Armco bridges, and 77 pioneer or suspension bridges distributed across various regions in Indonesia.