In conversation with journalists after witnessing President Jokowi inaugurated Youtefa Bridge in Jayapura on Monday, Rollo affirmed he had provided 10 hectares of land to the state to build the Indonesian Presidential Palace, the work for which will commence in 2020.
"(Late) President Soekarno's message to us all is that do not ask what your country has given to you but what you have given to your country," he stated, adding that the presidential palace is expected to be built in 2021.
Related news: President Jokowi inaugurates Youtefa Bridge in Jayapura
Following its completion, President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Iriana during his working visit to the provinces of Papua and West Papua, has vowed to use the presidential palace, Rollo remarked.
"That is Mr. President's pledge to us when we met him in Jakarta in September. Today, he came here and conveyed that the Presidential Palace will be erected in Jayapura," Rollo noted.
Before continuing his work visit to Ambon, the capital city of Maluku Province, President Jokowi inaugurated Youtefa Bridge, or also popularly called Holtekamp Bridge by several residents of Jayapura, the capital city of Papua Province.
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"I am upbeat that this Youtefa Bridge is cared for and kept clean," President Jokowi remarked while inaugurating the 732-meter-long and 21-meter-wide bridge at around 3:30 p.m. local time.
The president remarked that the bridge, whose construction began in 2015 and for which Rp1.8 trillion was spent, was expected to help bolster the province's economic development.
In connection with the construction of this Youtefa Bridge, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Wempi Wetipo revealed that it was part of President Jokowi's commitment to expediting infrastructure development in Papua.
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Hence, Wetipo urged the people at large, especially those residing in Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, to care for this long bridge in the province.
"Please take care of this bridge. Do not vandalize it again. This is proof of a president's commitment to us," he noted, adding that President Jokowi truly cared for the rapid development of infrastructure facilities in Papua.
President Jokowi has consistently shown full commitment to developing Papua. Hence, the people of Papua should laud him by maintaining and caring for facilities, including the bridge, that his administration has built, he stated.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Musa Abubakar, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
