UI Patriot Expedition Team builds Wondama Patriot Bridge for 81st Independence Day
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The University of Indonesia (UI) Patriot Expedition Team (TEP), together with the local community, has built the UI Wondama Patriot Bridge in Lokus Werianggi, Teluk Wondama Regency, West Papua, to mark the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
The bridge construction is part of Bakti Transmigrasi, one of the two major themes of the Ministry of Transmigration’s TEP 2026 programme, and is expected to ease residents’ mobility and support the social and economic activities of the local community.
“I appreciate the concern shown by the University of Indonesia Patriot Expedition Team serving in Lokus Werianggi, Teluk Wondama. Their presence does not stop at studies and recommendations, but is realised in concrete action whose benefits can be directly felt by the community,” said Minister of Transmigration Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara in an official statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.
According to Iftitah, the bridge construction reflects the spirit of gotong royong and service that is part of the Transformation of Transmigration.
The bridge was built through collaboration between TEP UI and the Werianggi community and is expected to help strengthen connectivity for communities in the transmigration area.
Iftitah said the Transformation of Transmigration places the community as the main part of regional development. Therefore, TEP members are encouraged to understand the conditions and needs of the community directly.
In addition to mapping the potential of the area, the team is also directed to identify local potential that can be developed into new sources of economic growth.
“The spirit of independence must be interpreted by delivering real progress. From Werianggi, we see that development does not always start from something big,” said Iftitah.
According to him, care, gotong royong, and the courage to be directly involved can be the beginning of change for the community.
Hendra Kaprisma, representative of the University of Indonesia Patriot Expedition Team Leader, said the bridge construction is also a manifestation of collaboration between universities, government, and the community.
“For us, this bridge is not only about repairing damaged access. It is a symbol that development will be stronger when done together. There is the government, universities, and most importantly the community who participate in the work and own the development,” said Hendra.
A total of 22 TEP UI members from 20 teams assigned to the Werianggi-Werabur area were directly involved in the construction of the UI Wondama Patriot Bridge.
Nationally, the Ministry of Transmigration has assigned 1,476 TEP 2026 participants divided into 246 teams to serve in 53 transmigration areas.
The assignment locations consist of 41 National Priority Transmigration Areas, two priority areas of the Ministry of Transmigration, and 10 transmigration areas in Papua.
This involvement is part of TEP UI’s contribution through research, education, and community service activities.
The Ministry of Transmigration stated that TEP UI’s action in Werianggi also shows that the Transformation of Transmigration is not only related to physical development, but also the development of connected and productive areas that provide sustainable benefits for the community.
These efforts are directed to support the development of transmigration areas as new centres of economic growth towards Golden Indonesia 2045.