"We want to directly distribute budget to villages through this cash labor-intensive program. Thus, the people`s consumption or purchasing power could increase," the president said after inspecting the construction of an irrigation canal and paddy field production road in Waimital Village of West Seram District on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing implemented the labor-intensive program in the village to build an irrigation canal that has absorbed 120 workers from local villages.
The president remarked that under this program, the government will restore production roads between paddy fields and develop the irrigation system.
"We can derive several advantages from the cash labor-intensive program," President Jokowi noted.
During the visit, the president, accompanied by Public Works Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and Maluku Governor Said Assagaff, inspected the construction of a 1,095-meter-long production road at a cost Rp600 million to be built in three months.
The ministry has also built a 3.6-kilometer-long small irrigation canal at a cost of Rp1.35 billion to be completed in 50 days.
Earlier in the day, Jokowi had inspected the construction of a road and drainage facility that involved 160 villagers in Oihu, Batu Merah Village.
The president has also reviewed a project involving 150 villagers to conduct river normalization in the village.
According to the president, the labor-intensive program will continue to be implemented to create more jobs and to boost the circulation of money in rural areas.
"It will not only involve the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Village, Disadvantaged Region Development, and Transmigration but also all ministries. Some projects in the Transportation Ministry will be implemented under the cash labor-intensive program," Jokowi added.
Reported by Joko Susilo
(S022/INE)
EDITED BY INE/a014
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: SYSTEM
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
